tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39695083332792299822024-03-13T07:17:46.858+05:30All the gathered woolBut my thoughts ran a wool-gathering... - Don Quixote.Woolgathererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10422696282109435691noreply@blogger.comBlogger76125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3969508333279229982.post-59051934344722041692016-02-24T21:30:00.000+05:302016-03-11T02:10:19.040+05:30An English summer<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Summer. </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The tell-tale petunias, geraniums and what-nots spilling out of their baskets at every street corner, public house and building. Summer</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> brings the crowds out onto the streets, into parks and public spaces in London. It also brings in a rush of tourists who seem to have a whale of a time. </span>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Is it fun for the residents too, having their city invaded by multitudes each summer? Do they wish for a quiet, sunny corner to catch a nap, read a book, sip some wine and just day-dream?</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Victoria Memorial in front of Buckingham Palace<br /><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victoria_Memorial,_London" target="_blank">History, geography & all the rest</a></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Admiralty Arch, soon to be hotel<br /><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Admiralty_Arch" target="_blank">History, geography & all the rest</a></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uS-oUVpPUCM/Vs3LFf9j7eI/AAAAAAAABM8/6OrpRg0jLio/s1600/IMG_1639.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uS-oUVpPUCM/Vs3LFf9j7eI/AAAAAAAABM8/6OrpRg0jLio/s400/IMG_1639.JPG" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Arches as seen from Trafalgar Square</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LF3sq-VYOXU/Vs3LdV2KZrI/AAAAAAAABNM/1J9LmQMqJJg/s1600/IMG_20150830_170021977_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LF3sq-VYOXU/Vs3LdV2KZrI/AAAAAAAABNM/1J9LmQMqJJg/s400/IMG_20150830_170021977_HDR.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">A London pub on the riverside in Southwark<br /><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anchor_Bankside" target="_blank">History, geography & all the rest</a></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hiy2xB5bdVw/Vs3LqF7DlyI/AAAAAAAABNg/Rsap_BT1TGI/s1600/IMG_2276.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="269" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hiy2xB5bdVw/Vs3LqF7DlyI/AAAAAAAABNg/Rsap_BT1TGI/s400/IMG_2276.JPG" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Sunshine, Hyde Park & the distant London skyline<br /><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyde_Park,_London" target="_blank">History, geography & all the rest</a></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QtJi1YTBowY/Vs3LjGO_WQI/AAAAAAAABNY/8HF-HVGgkXM/s1600/IMG_20150917_163442785.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QtJi1YTBowY/Vs3LjGO_WQI/AAAAAAAABNY/8HF-HVGgkXM/s640/IMG_20150917_163442785.jpg" width="417" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Even the trees seem to reach out & <br />soak up some sunshine</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-90uZRPu_tCI/Vs3Lws0bHaI/AAAAAAAABNo/o1TQe47-iAc/s1600/IMG_20150917_122711576_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-90uZRPu_tCI/Vs3Lws0bHaI/AAAAAAAABNo/o1TQe47-iAc/s400/IMG_20150917_122711576_HDR.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Ah! Good old London Eye. For that 360 deg view of the city<br /><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Eye" target="_blank">History, geography & all the rest</a></span></td></tr>
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Woolgathererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10422696282109435691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3969508333279229982.post-85278069972996720012016-02-21T20:22:00.001+05:302016-03-11T02:10:33.529+05:30Summer sky<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Used only to the many moods of Indian summers, I landed in the midst of a beautiful English summer. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-n3uUbhconOg/VsnNUs5yV8I/AAAAAAAABMk/A8cLh1E3Zao/s1600/oxford.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-n3uUbhconOg/VsnNUs5yV8I/AAAAAAAABMk/A8cLh1E3Zao/s400/oxford.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Colours of the earth & sky</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">July 2015, 9PM, Oxford, England, UK</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Scattered clouds floating in a crimson sky. Daylight stretching beyond the notions of </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">(Indian)</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">propriety. Beer(s) under the shade of old trees in farmhouse pubs. Walking back home in companionable silence. In the air remained the promise of a similar summer day, the next day & many days afterwards.</span> </div>
Woolgathererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10422696282109435691noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3969508333279229982.post-18694620798321127802016-02-21T04:01:00.000+05:302016-02-24T20:39:15.589+05:30North Eastern Odyssey 6 - Mokokchung<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">To get to Mokokchung from Mon, our driver did not use any of the interior roads within Nagaland. I am not sure if he was worried about any untoward incidents occurring along the way or the condition of the roads or both. We followed the highway back into Assam and then drove into Nagaland, closer to </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Mokokchung</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">. The roads this side of Nagaland were surprisingly good, at least far better than anything we had seen on the Mon leg.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Across the border into Nagaland, in a few minutes we met our first check post. Our vehicle got a thorough once-over, even our bags were checked. The men on duty were polite but firm and more than a little surprised that two women were travelling around the countryside on their own (according to them, I don't think the driver counted as 'protection'). As we left the checkpost, they assured us there was no trouble but we too should take care and not be out on the roads or streets after dark. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We reached </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Mokokchung</b></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> after 5 hours on the road. On the way side we passed neat little villages that looked straight out of a postcard with wooden homes and well-tended gardens, flowering away. Clouds rolled over the hills, sometimes above us and sometimes below.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4YvbgYAIDUI/VsjH2I9cfxI/AAAAAAAABKA/FpVBgq4_9QE/s1600/DSC06835.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4YvbgYAIDUI/VsjH2I9cfxI/AAAAAAAABKA/FpVBgq4_9QE/s400/DSC06835.JPG" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Early in the morning before the sun could <br />chase away the clouds</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nz12W615v6g/VsjH8ZXbBnI/AAAAAAAABKI/dtdkdEKeFnk/s1600/DSC06840.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nz12W615v6g/VsjH8ZXbBnI/AAAAAAAABKI/dtdkdEKeFnk/s400/DSC06840.JPG" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Picturesque scenes like this dot the landscape</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We stayed at Metsuben in </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Mokokchung town</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">, a well-known hotel it seemed, as a lot of different government meetings and seminars were being held while we were there. The hotel was comfortable and had far more amenities than we expected. The next morning we were up fairly early but there was no guide available. The hotel was supposed to arrange for one and they had goofed up. While they were sorting it out, we visited the viewing tower a little way behind the hotel and took some photographs, <i>ooh-ed</i> and <i>aah-ed</i> over the breathtaking view. Absolutely breathtaking. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Nmc_JfYdnpY/VsjIGdT4IyI/AAAAAAAABKQ/T0FF9bMbhgw/s1600/DSC06819.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Nmc_JfYdnpY/VsjIGdT4IyI/AAAAAAAABKQ/T0FF9bMbhgw/s400/DSC06819.JPG" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Mokokchung town spread out before us. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QcZBPVrv-1U/VsjIMVWqbgI/AAAAAAAABKY/08DGrgHyOcU/s1600/DSC06822.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QcZBPVrv-1U/VsjIMVWqbgI/AAAAAAAABKY/08DGrgHyOcU/s400/DSC06822.JPG" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Another view of Mokokchung</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Our guide for the day finally arrived, T, a recent graduate, was still figuring out the 'what next' in his life. In the meantime he was moonlighting as a tourist guide. He showed us the places of interest but wasn't involved or as knowledgeable as an experienced guide would be. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Mokokchung district is mainly populated by the Ao tribespeople. </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We first went to <b>Longkhum</b> village. We saw the log drums which are now preserved but in the old days were beaten to signal war or celebratory feasts. We also walked a stone pathway in the midst of a thickly wooded area. The place looked ancient as if the trees were centuries old (probably were!) and the stones that formed the pathway were thrown across to create a passage through the trees. There are some <a href="https://robintemsu.wordpress.com/2012/05/25/legendary-story-of-the-ao-naga/" target="_blank">interesting legends</a><span id="goog_1682148332"></span><span id="goog_1682148333"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a> - of Jina and Etiben, their very own Romeo and Juliet, of secret tunnels near the pathway that go on for miles, opening into the heart of the forests and more. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q13bG2OxWpM/VsjPz7i5paI/AAAAAAAABMQ/OSpcFZz1mME/s1600/J%2526E.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="459" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q13bG2OxWpM/VsjPz7i5paI/AAAAAAAABMQ/OSpcFZz1mME/s400/J%2526E.png" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">pic courtesy: INTACH<br />For the complete document <a href="http://www.intach.org/pdf/Young-Intach-oct-dec2014.pdf" target="_blank">click here</a></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In Longkhum there seemed to be a different vibe in the surrounding forests. Wherever I was in Nagaland, I never felt far away from nature, especially with the brilliant green and the floating clouds around every corner. But, in Longkhum this feel was intensified, it felt like I was entering hallowed grounds, following in the footsteps of centuries of people before me. There was a particular 'oldness' to the place that is indescribable bringing with it silence and peace, amplified only by the sounds of nature. (Yes, amplified :) because it didn't disturb the atmosphere, but added to it). </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OjyikXyq8IU/VsjJsrLRQgI/AAAAAAAABKs/78ETHcfFrlY/s1600/Mokokchung_Longkhum_stonepath.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OjyikXyq8IU/VsjJsrLRQgI/AAAAAAAABKs/78ETHcfFrlY/s640/Mokokchung_Longkhum_stonepath.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Stone path through the forest</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Log drum at Longkhum</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fcgXe2Umm_U/VsjJ8HzU3qI/AAAAAAAABLA/t79nlJ1lxFs/s1600/DSC06830.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fcgXe2Umm_U/VsjJ8HzU3qI/AAAAAAAABLA/t79nlJ1lxFs/s400/DSC06830.JPG" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Granaries set up away from the main village area to prevent <br />loss of food-stock incase of fire or other accidents</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_nwFnVS0KSw/VsjKGxwy9_I/AAAAAAAABLI/mQTfgncP1Yw/s1600/DSC06844.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="362" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_nwFnVS0KSw/VsjKGxwy9_I/AAAAAAAABLI/mQTfgncP1Yw/s400/DSC06844.JPG" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Another log drum</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We visited the home of a local inventor too, known in these parts as the 'scientist' - the man was no more but his family were gracious enough to allow us to look at the inside of their home which was a curiosity in itself. The doors and windows throughout the house could be opened/closed sitting at a distance, with a system of levers and handles the man had set up, all by himself. He had even constructed a boiler which heated water with pipes running from the fire in the central fire place. This would have been a boon for the family all those years ago when electricity hadn't reached the village and running hot water was unheard of. It was an interesting house and the family was very proud of the old inventor's accomplishments. Unfortunately, I didn't take any photos in the house.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Ungma</b> village was our next stop. Supposed to be the oldest village where the Ao Nagas settled. The village was pretty but the old ways were gone. Some aspects had been preserved. Their training place known as <i>Riju</i> here, (<i>morung</i> in Mon) had been recreated. There was a log drum here too safely housed next to the Riju. We also saw a really tall pole in the centre of the village. T claimed it was a stairway to heaven which men climbed to get closer to the Gods. At Ungma we also visited a weaver who was creating beautiful fabrics and shawls in the traditional design of the Ao tribe. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SP0ORByc3rk/VsjLFFYNwTI/AAAAAAAABLY/Nkc4d0Nk1C8/s1600/DSC06849.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SP0ORByc3rk/VsjLFFYNwTI/AAAAAAAABLY/Nkc4d0Nk1C8/s400/DSC06849.JPG" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The <i>Riju</i> in the village</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eobRGpypK24/VsjLKZMcPuI/AAAAAAAABLg/ksFQZher_n4/s1600/DSC06852.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eobRGpypK24/VsjLKZMcPuI/AAAAAAAABLg/ksFQZher_n4/s400/DSC06852.JPG" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The log drum in Ungma, created in 1935</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PglVLSmvrj8/VsjLQtCUw_I/AAAAAAAABLo/0x1U9eLzLHQ/s1600/DSC06854.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PglVLSmvrj8/VsjLQtCUw_I/AAAAAAAABLo/0x1U9eLzLHQ/s400/DSC06854.JPG" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Cloth in a traditional design on the loom</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Most women in the northeast learn to weave as soon as they are old enough to handle a loom. Nagaland is no different. Each of the tribes have their distinct designs woven into the cloth and shawls as a mark of identification. This is illustrated quite well through displays in the </span><a href="http://gonewoolgathering.blogspot.in/2015/09/north-eastern-odyssey-1-kohima.html" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;" target="_blank">State Museum in Kohima</a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Later, after lunch, we wandered around Mokokchung town for a bit, shopped for handwoven shawls and bags which are a speciality here in Nagaland. The younger generation from the northeast are known to be the most fashionable in India and the shops in Mokokchung and Kohima proved just that. There was quite an interesting mix of the traditional and modern in both these towns.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2NQTyqxBBjk/VsjLbfKk41I/AAAAAAAABLw/DoXF1FE0Psc/s1600/MKG_mainstreet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="374" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2NQTyqxBBjk/VsjLbfKk41I/AAAAAAAABLw/DoXF1FE0Psc/s400/MKG_mainstreet.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Mokokchung town before it awoke in the morning</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The next day we left for Kohima. Our last stop before we headed back home. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-56m5mHp5VHk/VsjLg1Ar8VI/AAAAAAAABL4/EbW1hKr3CKs/s1600/teastop_MKG_Kohima_route3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-56m5mHp5VHk/VsjLg1Ar8VI/AAAAAAAABL4/EbW1hKr3CKs/s400/teastop_MKG_Kohima_route3.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">On the way to Kohima</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>More on Nagaland:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://gonewoolgathering.blogspot.in/2015/09/north-eastern-odyssey-1-kohima.html" target="_blank">Kohima (State Museum)</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://gonewoolgathering.blogspot.in/2014/08/peace-eternal-rest.html" target="_blank">World War II Memorial, Kohima</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://gonewoolgathering.blogspot.in/2014/08/razhu-pru-cosy-comfortable.html" target="_blank">Razhu Pru, Kohima (a Heritage Villa) </a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://gonewoolgathering.blogspot.in/2016/02/north-eastern-odyssey-4-mon.html" target="_blank">Mon 1</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://gonewoolgathering.blogspot.in/2016/02/north-eastern-odyssey-5-mon-contd.html" target="_blank">Mon 2</a> </span></div>
Woolgathererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10422696282109435691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3969508333279229982.post-22344751453361019162016-02-18T03:01:00.001+05:302016-02-24T20:38:38.945+05:30North Eastern Odyssey 5 - Mon (contd.)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Early morning we headed out to <b>Longwa</b> near the Myanmar (Burmese) border. Our guide, Anyang, a Konyak himself, gave us a pretty detailed idea of life in these hills. The Konyak tribe has settled in the villages around Mon, the last known tribes to have headhunted in these parts. Hence, they have sort of a celebrity status among tourists visiting Nagaland.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">At Longwa, there exists a porous border between Myanmar and India. There are border patrols and bases, but they aren't as intimidating or fenced and armed as in other parts of India. Here, the border is an invisible line that cuts right in the middle of the <i>Ang</i>'s (chieftain) house (so the claim goes). He is head of over 500+ households in that area. One half of his house and a part of the village sits in Myanmar and the other in India. Some of the villages in his territory as <i>Ang</i> lie on the Myanmar side of the border.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RYw9fz6jLN8/VsTUGjEj0yI/AAAAAAAABHs/x87bg1H8L1E/s1600/DSC06765.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RYw9fz6jLN8/VsTUGjEj0yI/AAAAAAAABHs/x87bg1H8L1E/s400/DSC06765.JPG" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Ang's house in Longwa village through which <br />runs the international boundary between India & Myanmar</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">On our side the hills are almost bereft of any vegetation with villages dotted here and there on the hillsides while on the Myanmar side it is lush with thick jungles. A short distance from Longwa, there is a marker indicating border post 154 in both Hindi and Burmese. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FPU8hHplyyc/VsTUVbzfFJI/AAAAAAAABH0/K1HUjwPucB4/s1600/DSC06778.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FPU8hHplyyc/VsTUVbzfFJI/AAAAAAAABH0/K1HUjwPucB4/s400/DSC06778.JPG" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Myanmar side of the border with thick forests</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bQtSePnmbZ0/VsTUbAeTCgI/AAAAAAAABH8/B0_q06SXqxY/s1600/DSC06780.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bQtSePnmbZ0/VsTUbAeTCgI/AAAAAAAABH8/B0_q06SXqxY/s400/DSC06780.JPG" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Indian side of the border bereft of forests</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XjTjo0k9Ec8/VsTVpi9-N5I/AAAAAAAABIY/8PFN0FlFGJo/s1600/borderpost.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XjTjo0k9Ec8/VsTVpi9-N5I/AAAAAAAABIY/8PFN0FlFGJo/s400/borderpost.jpg" width="263" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The border post marking the international <br />boundary that runs through Longwa</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The <i>Ang</i>'s house was the largest structure in the village and maintained in the traditional way as much as possible i.e. the rooms were all partitioned off with bamboo walls and wooden beams. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rhMV_ArgDOI/VsTUhSIFgPI/AAAAAAAABIE/IxQMyqopGOI/s1600/DSC06760.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rhMV_ArgDOI/VsTUhSIFgPI/AAAAAAAABIE/IxQMyqopGOI/s400/DSC06760.JPG" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The traditional interiors of the <br /><i>Ang</i>'s house</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The Ang was sitting with some of his clansmen in a room that was decorated with old artefacts - monkey head bags, carved benches, headhunter necklaces etc. The <i>Ang</i>, wore coloured beads on his legs, below the knees, a privilege accorded only to him. Most of the men were smoking and in the haze filled room everything appeared surreal. If it wasn't for the guide and the more modern clothes everyone wore, I could have easily imagined I had time-travelled. Our guide gave the <i>Ang</i> a 'gift' (in kind) which every visitor is expected to make and he happily posed for pictures and allowed us to wander around. The men seemed too lethargic to talk except for asking the guide, "What two women were doing in these parts by themselves?" and "Are they Indians?" </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">These questions we had got quite used to as the only tourists they were used to seeing this far were foreigners - fair skinned, non-black hair, different accents etc. The only Indians who travel this far are usually government officials, sometimes the odd journalist and adventurous male visitor. Everywhere we went, we could only laugh this curiosity off, explaining was beyond us. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X3NBvXiVP3w/VsTV1GwKTXI/AAAAAAAABIg/DvPKZzLuLdc/s1600/DSC06740.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X3NBvXiVP3w/VsTV1GwKTXI/AAAAAAAABIg/DvPKZzLuLdc/s400/DSC06740.JPG" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">One of the many curiosities inside the <i>Ang</i>'s house</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-niQMYN5K8JE/VsTV7jEl0-I/AAAAAAAABIs/Iglrw0HWVsA/s1600/DSC06737.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-niQMYN5K8JE/VsTV7jEl0-I/AAAAAAAABIs/Iglrw0HWVsA/s400/DSC06737.JPG" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Carved benches & bedsteads</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DvJdiwak-3g/VsTWFHzcqgI/AAAAAAAABI0/Y9qOMPQuu2w/s1600/DSC06757.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DvJdiwak-3g/VsTWFHzcqgI/AAAAAAAABI0/Y9qOMPQuu2w/s400/DSC06757.JPG" width="396" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The <i>Ang</i> of the Konyak tribe who have settled <br />in & around Longwa village</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Interestingly, the <i>Ang</i> has seven wives and many children. But, we did not see a single woman from his household though we could hear them now and then. Polygamy and head-hunting have both died out now that the Nagas have become Christians. Though, they manage to straddle their animism traditions along with Christianity without losing much sleep over it. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uK70tatn4Kg/VsTYbHU-HqI/AAAAAAAABJQ/a0k_ZCp_jlA/s1600/DSC06781.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uK70tatn4Kg/VsTYbHU-HqI/AAAAAAAABJQ/a0k_ZCp_jlA/s400/DSC06781.JPG" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Longwa village with the <i>Ang</i>'s house (</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">far right)</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">, <br />with the </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">thatched roof</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The village for all its remoteness, had some touristy stuff going on. They had a small market set up where they were selling hand carved wooden artefacts, beaded jewellery and other items. In a way it was a little depressing as much of the objects being sold were </span><a href="http://heathersnagablog.blogspot.in/2010/12/darker-side-of-holiday-sale.html" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;" target="_blank">going for a song</a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">. </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The market is not likely to die down as it's a huge hit among the</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> visitors who buy souvenirs for home. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The tribespeople are not poor as they are self-sufficient and seem to have more than enough to keep body and soul together. If you cut out the romanticism, what they required in Longwa, was nothing that money could buy - access to good quality schools, healthcare and public utilities. This is only possible if the government put its mind and will to it. But I suppose like in all border areas, this becomes one among a long list of neglected villages. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DoMbkpqkUIs/VsTXH8-gnZI/AAAAAAAABJE/aWBcIdlmoGM/s1600/DSC06761.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="379" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DoMbkpqkUIs/VsTXH8-gnZI/AAAAAAAABJE/aWBcIdlmoGM/s400/DSC06761.JPG" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The mini-market of artefacts set up in the village</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The Konyaks are good carvers of wood and workers of metal. We saw little children carrying machetes and other weaponry used to kills small birds and animals. After spending a few hours, we headed back to the guesthouse for lunch.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In the afternoon, we left for another village, this time closer to town. This village was also called <b>Mon</b>. Here, the old men were tattooed, an ancient warrior rite and some wore necklaces to represent the heads they had taken in their lifetimes. They had large curved spikes in their ears made of mountain goat horns. I can only imagine how fierce and terror-inducing they must have been in their heydays as warriors in these hills. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The Ang here is chieftain over a 100+ households and his territory is all on the Indian side. We met the Ang in his old house which has become a sort of meeting place for him and his friends. Right next to it there is a more modern, concrete house for his two wives and many children. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tmzneZd8nz4/VsTcu340lUI/AAAAAAAABJc/jTIQsrTP5Xg/s1600/DSC06788.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tmzneZd8nz4/VsTcu340lUI/AAAAAAAABJc/jTIQsrTP5Xg/s400/DSC06788.JPG" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The <i>Ang </i>(far right) recognisable due to the beaded <br />strings below his knees, with his friends in his home</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We were taken to the <i>Morung</i> in the village. In the old days, the boys who were of age (to become warriors) were all gathered here and tutored over many weeks and months in the customs and traditions of the tribe, in wielding weapons and in fighting. Today, the <i>morung</i> is used as a meeting place for the village and the boys are still taught tradition and lore but no one stays there and certainly no fighting is taught. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The old men we met were nostalgic of their days as headhunters when they were young and strong and were feared. With old traditions ended or lost, they seemed unable to figure out their place in this new world. Here too, they were smoking. And of course, chewing betel nut, a constant with both men and women especially if their stained teeth and red lips are anything to go by. Apparently, it keeps them alert and energised. So they say. :) </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-stLzJsB03lA/VsTgv1DkK4I/AAAAAAAABJo/F9CvJaii2ls/s1600/DSC06790.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="375" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-stLzJsB03lA/VsTgv1DkK4I/AAAAAAAABJo/F9CvJaii2ls/s400/DSC06790.JPG" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The men gathered in the <i>Morung</i> in the evening</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O0_6rlN8phM/VsTg_eUbVXI/AAAAAAAABJw/3mrUlCRA_SY/s1600/DSC06795.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O0_6rlN8phM/VsTg_eUbVXI/AAAAAAAABJw/3mrUlCRA_SY/s400/DSC06795.JPG" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">An old warrior (tattoos on his face represent his status) <br />was happy to pose outside the <i>Morung</i>, in front of <br />the many <i>Mithun</i> heads</span> </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The men started singing a folk song, with a sort of chanting, haunting melody. We couldn't understand any of it but it added to the sense of nostalgia in the fading daylight. As we left the </span><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">morung</i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">, they moved on from one song to the other, hopeful that the younger generation would pick up where they left off. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In Mon village too, we did not see any women outside. Only the men were around and a few children who were quite fascinated by the (Indian-looking) foreigners visiting the village. After the fantastic day we had spent in Mon we headed back to the guesthouse. We left early the next day to Mokokchung. </span></div>
Woolgathererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10422696282109435691noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3969508333279229982.post-34017975764022932612016-02-17T03:30:00.003+05:302016-02-17T03:37:47.462+05:30North Eastern Odyssey 4 - Mon<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">After Arunachal Pradesh (<a href="http://gonewoolgathering.blogspot.in/2016/02/north-eastern-odyssey-2-ziro.html" target="_blank">Ziro</a> & <a href="http://gonewoolgathering.blogspot.in/2016/02/north-eastern-odyssey-3-aalo.html" target="_blank">Aalo</a>), we travelled towards Nagaland. To do this we drove back into Assam, halted at Dibrugarh, crossed the mighty Brahmaputra (so wide, I could've mistaken it for the sea!) before heading towards Mon, our first pit stop in Nagaland. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MQbQDs5X7o8/VsOQCyTsXpI/AAAAAAAABGs/-8pTdJRHtwU/s1600/Brahmaputra_ferry1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="374" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MQbQDs5X7o8/VsOQCyTsXpI/AAAAAAAABGs/-8pTdJRHtwU/s400/Brahmaputra_ferry1.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Brahmaputra showing us his placid, calm side</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">(Trivia: It's the only river in India we mention in the masculine gender)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ur6EsSvopQA/VsOQJhf4PvI/AAAAAAAABG0/QjsGRZU6UgI/s1600/DSC06718.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ur6EsSvopQA/VsOQJhf4PvI/AAAAAAAABG0/QjsGRZU6UgI/s400/DSC06718.JPG" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Orderly tea gardens as we got closer to Dibrugarh</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We had a few uncertain moments where our driver wanted to cancel out because he felt there was trouble brewing near the Assam - Nagaland border. But, we decided to go ahead and see for ourselves. His fear was unfounded because as we neared the border people seemed to go about their lives normally. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">At the border town, Tizit, we stopped for a snack break. The Assam Rifles outpost there runs a small eating joint manned by one man - a soldier, who is the cook - server - manager all rolled into one. The place is open to the general public and they serve tea and snacks like noodles and momos. The cook was friendly and full of good-natured advise on where to go and what to see. While we were there we saw the locals including children on their way back from school dropping in for a bite to eat or for the <i>chai </i>(tea). After the much needed break, we started our journey further into Nagaland towards Mon. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Aa2VYDTimQk/VsOQRd7h16I/AAAAAAAABG8/i_jyfgv1luo/s640/Waterfall_onwaytoMon.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="564" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Little streams flowing down the hillside<br />(not a great photo, taken from the moving vehicle)</span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Aa2VYDTimQk/VsOQRd7h16I/AAAAAAAABG8/i_jyfgv1luo/s1600/Waterfall_onwaytoMon.jpg" imageanchor="1"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></a><br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The roads again are terrible on this side of the border. There was not even the ghost of a tarmac left, if there was ever one in the first place. But enough said. We reached Mon late in the afternoon, after a good 6+ hrs drive (not counting the break at Tizit). Our stay was at Paramount Guesthouse which is one of two recommended places to stay in Mon. Since lunch was over for the day in the guesthouse, we found something to eat at the eating joint next door. Simple fare but good enough or maybe we were so hungry that we couldn't care less. :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Paramount Guest house is run by a lady, who is simply called Aunty by everyone. Her family runs the other guesthouse in town too. The place was comfortable, clean and neat. The weather had turned colder and we were glad the room was warm. The power had gone out with our arrival in Mon and had not come back until we left. There was no power backup at the guesthouse at the time we were there. I don't think accessing fuel to run generators is very easy or inexpensive. We made do with candle-light, warm clothes and multiple quilts. The food served in the guesthouse was delicious. The lady who cooked and managed the kitchen made absolutely yummy local fare like nettles, pork/ chicken with bamboo shoot etc which are their specialities. After Mon, we didn't get to eat as good a local fare anywhere else in Nagaland. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The guesthouse overlooks the main road into town. As early as 4am in the morning, we heard people stirring, walking to work or to catch the bus/ local transport due to arrive. From our room, we could see the Mon spread out below us. Mon sits at the top of 2-3 hills, spreading over their slopes. When we looked out of the window, we could see only clouds. As the daylight grew and the sun became warmer, the clouds dissolved and the town was revealed, below us. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The whole daylight & time scenario was fascinating. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="304" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cNdDxCT0HJs/VsOQkkVvBKI/AAAAAAAABHE/6GSqQ0TobQg/s400/Mon_morn2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="500" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">View outside the window at 7.00AM</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FIJETsJydkE/VsOQrCcJgoI/AAAAAAAABHM/-ShEXfV5uP4/s1600/Mon_viewfromGHwindow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="374" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FIJETsJydkE/VsOQrCcJgoI/AAAAAAAABHM/-ShEXfV5uP4/s400/Mon_viewfromGHwindow.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">View outside the window at 2.00PM</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bWE3VuhtH8E/VsOQvWPpOzI/AAAAAAAABHY/zOOqlRr-97E/s1600/Mon_5.20pm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="374" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bWE3VuhtH8E/VsOQvWPpOzI/AAAAAAAABHY/zOOqlRr-97E/s400/Mon_5.20pm.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Mon town at 5.30PM</span></td></tr>
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Woolgathererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10422696282109435691noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3969508333279229982.post-27535552558183447752016-02-16T02:44:00.000+05:302016-02-16T02:45:41.063+05:30North Eastern Odyssey 3 - Aalo<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YV-qZHjoRtM/VsIyr2mlUtI/AAAAAAAABEY/yV-6A6q0s1k/s1600/EnroutetoAalo_roads1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="317" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YV-qZHjoRtM/VsIyr2mlUtI/AAAAAAAABEY/yV-6A6q0s1k/s400/EnroutetoAalo_roads1.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Swift rivers, sliding slopes</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">After <a href="http://gonewoolgathering.blogspot.in/2016/02/north-eastern-odyssey-2-ziro.html" target="_blank">Ziro</a> we travelled to Aalo, around 360 Kms away. As the road was hilly as well as terrible, it was a very long drive. We stopped overnight at Daporijo, about 6 hrs away. We were supposed to stay at a homestay run by a local family but there was a mix up and we didn't have a place anymore. Finally, after much going around the small town, we ended up in a 'work-in-progress' hotel with some 'stay-able' rooms. It was pretty bizarre but since the region is fairly safe, we put our trust in the family running the hotel & who lived in the premises too. Our other option was probably our vehicle which was not an incentive. We ate a small, simple meal cooked by the owner's wife and crashed out. We left early the next day onwards to Aalo. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7D6WtRmh9qs/VsIyyc1-BBI/AAAAAAAABEg/AylWdNnX5kg/s1600/Enroute_to_Aalo_Mirihomes1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="479" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7D6WtRmh9qs/VsIyyc1-BBI/AAAAAAAABEg/AylWdNnX5kg/s400/Enroute_to_Aalo_Mirihomes1.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">A <i>Miri</i> tribal home balancing at the edge of a steep slope</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QpZyYUOBh94/VsIy3rIIjoI/AAAAAAAABEo/NluFWTUEFvo/s1600/EnroutetoAalo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QpZyYUOBh94/VsIy3rIIjoI/AAAAAAAABEo/NluFWTUEFvo/s400/EnroutetoAalo.JPG" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"> Banana plantations are in the midst of the wilderness</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="text-align: center;"><i>Jhoom</i> cultivation (slash & burn) is practised in most areas of the North East. Here, in Arunachal Pradesh it's a</span><span style="text-align: center;">t the pace of every two years. It is not surprising to see f</span><span style="text-align: center;">orested areas suddenly throwing up patches of</span><span style="text-align: center;"> cultivated crops</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: center;">.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DlLePBvI154/VsIzBY6T1DI/AAAAAAAABEw/_sCDYsZrfG0/s1600/HangingBridge_Daporijo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DlLePBvI154/VsIzBY6T1DI/AAAAAAAABEw/_sCDYsZrfG0/s400/HangingBridge_Daporijo.JPG" width="295" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Bridges like these and some even <br />more rudimentary are the lifelines across </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">rivers. This bridge's strength could only </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">accommodate pedestrians & two-wheelers</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8XnBynPw7eE/VsIzGhXralI/AAAAAAAABE4/n9X7lUH9x-k/s1600/EnroutetoAalo2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8XnBynPw7eE/VsIzGhXralI/AAAAAAAABE4/n9X7lUH9x-k/s640/EnroutetoAalo2.JPG" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Enroute we came across many hidden springs like </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">these which seemed touched as if with magic</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Aalo is north-east from <a href="http://gonewoolgathering.blogspot.in/2016/02/north-eastern-odyssey-2-ziro.html" target="_blank">Ziro</a> and approx 6 hrs from Daporijo. The town lies on the banks of the Siyom and Sipu rivers. Locally, the river around Aalo is known as Yongmo and is revered. We spent our time in Aalo trekking along the river, visiting an <i>Adi Galong</i> tribal village, the local market and shopping a little at the local stores. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T6gEYFsjScs/VsI0tK60zdI/AAAAAAAABF0/QfHzfa3hUf8/s1600/DSC06685.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T6gEYFsjScs/VsI0tK60zdI/AAAAAAAABF0/QfHzfa3hUf8/s400/DSC06685.JPG" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Our trek alongside the river wound in & out of dense foliage</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GhBLTUFHJyk/VsI0yGQxD-I/AAAAAAAABF8/SmsOEEouTOA/s400/DSC06690.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="500" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Minyong, an <i>Adi</i> village across the river from Aalo <br />spread out on its banks</span> </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5DrI5ejc4n8/VsIzvGmxqUI/AAAAAAAABFM/J_FNuBxSp8M/s1600/DSC06696.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5DrI5ejc4n8/VsIzvGmxqUI/AAAAAAAABFM/J_FNuBxSp8M/s400/DSC06696.JPG" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">A rudimentary bridge built & put up by the villagers themselves</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Listening to snippets of life in Aalo from our two young guides, we realised a simple life is not attractive enough for the younger generation. They are well aware of developments beyond the mountains, thanks to the widespread reach of satellite television. The youth here are university graduates or at least have finished high school. Farming and other traditional occupations are not appealing anymore. It's not that they are unhappy with life at home, but they long to experience the glitz and glamour of big cities as they see broadcast on their television sets. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gGAeyRSOdl8/VsIz23TXvhI/AAAAAAAABFY/NMzgup2dOWs/s1600/DSC06668.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gGAeyRSOdl8/VsIz23TXvhI/AAAAAAAABFY/NMzgup2dOWs/s400/DSC06668.JPG" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>Mithun</i> (a large animal of the bison species, domesticated in <br />the North East) horns in a home represent wealth & prosperity </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zLW-bbLClxE/VsIz8U8CU1I/AAAAAAAABFg/m9RA1JYXxZE/s1600/DSC06671.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zLW-bbLClxE/VsIz8U8CU1I/AAAAAAAABFg/m9RA1JYXxZE/s640/DSC06671.JPG" width="384" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">An offering to the Gods inside a home, by the village shaman</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mo-9noWFuIY/VsI37f6CiAI/AAAAAAAABGc/kXf8JvOsJ0s/s1600/Aalo_minyong_village.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="328" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mo-9noWFuIY/VsI37f6CiAI/AAAAAAAABGc/kXf8JvOsJ0s/s400/Aalo_minyong_village.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Adi home on stilts & with large sun-decks, </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">to make </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KjG8rPNbJIc/VsI0DxjD7DI/AAAAAAAABFo/aOlFK0MKhkw/s1600/Aalo_Hotel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KjG8rPNbJIc/VsI0DxjD7DI/AAAAAAAABFo/aOlFK0MKhkw/s400/Aalo_Hotel.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Our rest stop in Aalo. Was comfortable & not too bad</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Employment levels are low and opportunities are limited to what they see around them, the things they feel are within their reach. Joining the government or the security forces is top of the list. The former for the same reason as the rest of India - job security, a spot of 'extra' money to be made and it allows them to mostly live not far from home. The latter for similar reasons (except the extra money) and the power connected with men in uniform, in these parts. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The unhappiness with the state machinery which they feel has left them behind in the development game is palpable. Basic necessities like good, regular healthcare services, higher education facilities, motorable roads, regular public transport service between villages and towns are all they are asking for. Inspite of the lack of these and the adversities, the people are full of grace, generous and also very thankful they live in peace (as compared to their neighbouring states and with China breathing down their necks at the border). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Arunachal Pradesh does not have the trappings of development - the big houses, office complexes or industries. But the people aren't poor, they live within their means, are self-sufficient and have learnt to live with what life has given them. But one can feel the winds of change in the people and the place. It's coming. I fervently hope the change is for good. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P8pEjqqy9Ew/VsI07mi4fII/AAAAAAAABGE/kIsEvN16qJM/s1600/afterAalo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P8pEjqqy9Ew/VsI07mi4fII/AAAAAAAABGE/kIsEvN16qJM/s400/afterAalo.JPG" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Temporary halt on the highway as the road was cleared of </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">a minor landslide. These are seen as common occurrences here</span></td></tr>
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Woolgathererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10422696282109435691noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3969508333279229982.post-89191501569585120402016-02-14T22:09:00.000+05:302016-02-14T22:09:49.384+05:30North Eastern Odyssey 2 - Ziro <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I seem to have begun the narration of our trip from the <a href="http://gonewoolgathering.blogspot.in/2015/09/north-eastern-odyssey-1-kohima.html" target="_blank">tail-end with Kohima</a>. I am going to rectify that and begin from the beginning. :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We arrived in Guwahati and post a quick lunch we started our drive towards the state border. Our night halt was at Tezpur. We had driven for approx 4 hrs through a quickly darkening landscape though it was barely 5pm. The sun disappears earlier here and rises much earlier than in the rest of the country. This was a bit disorienting at first and took a little getting used to. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We were travelling during the ten day Durga Pujo festival. All along the route that evening and next to our hotel in Tezpur too, we saw numerous pandals and people dressed for the festivities. The music and prayers lasted until late in the night. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CxhHGenXFoU/VsBsYQGByjI/AAAAAAAABA0/c0fmJ47vlug/s1600/pujo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CxhHGenXFoU/VsBsYQGByjI/AAAAAAAABA0/c0fmJ47vlug/s320/pujo.JPG" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>Durga Pujo</i> pandals along the way. This in Tezpur.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wPNuSx25KbA/VsBsfuR8jbI/AAAAAAAABA8/h1Z5n0CSzRs/s1600/Enroute_to_Tezpur_6pm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wPNuSx25KbA/VsBsfuR8jbI/AAAAAAAABA8/h1Z5n0CSzRs/s400/Enroute_to_Tezpur_6pm.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">By 6PM. Night fell early here. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">During the next fortnight, we made early starts to take advantage of the daylight as well as to cover the long distances from one destination to another. From Tezpur it's approx 300 Kms to Ziro, our first stop inside Arunachal Pradesh. It took us a little less than 9 hrs to get there, largely due to the deplorable <a href="http://gonewoolgathering.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/country-roads.html" target="_blank">condition of the roads</a>, especially, once we crossed over the state border from Assam into Arunachal Pradesh.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">There are many rivers that criss-cross the state, we found ourselves crossing a stream or a river often enough. We passed some of the many <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/sites/default/files/banners/dam_india_map.jpg" target="_blank">dams</a> that dot the state. The need for these dams, though, is hotly debated. And the government plans to <a href="http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/scrap-15-of-44-dams-planned-across-siang-in-arunachal-cwc-report/article5696890.ece" target="_blank">build many, many more</a>. If the plans go through, the politicians, bureaucrats, contractors and timber merchants are certainly going to make hay while the sun shines though it's anybody's guess if the people will truly benefit.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nKfPWmwqfvU/VsBs_yMAYTI/AAAAAAAABBI/GH17nIdFQME/s1600/DSC01562.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nKfPWmwqfvU/VsBs_yMAYTI/AAAAAAAABBI/GH17nIdFQME/s400/DSC01562.JPG" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Breathtaking views enroute as we climb into the hills</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dHLBfPWY_tE/VsBuHhldPOI/AAAAAAAABBg/oB5GMxrRFoc/s1600/DSC01571.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dHLBfPWY_tE/VsBuHhldPOI/AAAAAAAABBg/oB5GMxrRFoc/s400/DSC01571.JPG" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Making the most of a sunny day. Make-shift platforms <br />like this are used to dry food, clothes or to soak in a little sun.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tTa6DOkVZVY/VsBtbG6BqOI/AAAAAAAABBQ/OaXNUK3EjDI/s1600/DSC01567.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tTa6DOkVZVY/VsBtbG6BqOI/AAAAAAAABBQ/OaXNUK3EjDI/s400/DSC01567.JPG" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">One of the many dams that dot the state</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Ziro was absolutely beautiful. Breathtakingly, wondrously beautiful. We stayed at the Blue Pine Hotel which was clean, comfortable and warm. It was surprisingly large and well maintained for a rather remote place like Ziro where many outsiders don't venture. Then we found out that it hosts bureaucrats who come on official visits. Enough to keep this property in business and well-maintained. Now, there's even a Ziro Festival of Music bringing in more visitors in autumn. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JFNwU0SkDAE/VsB5vC1HCvI/AAAAAAAABBw/lSE8bteqaDg/s1600/Ziro_harvesting2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="374" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JFNwU0SkDAE/VsB5vC1HCvI/AAAAAAAABBw/lSE8bteqaDg/s400/Ziro_harvesting2.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">It was harvest time. The community works together to <br />make sure everyone's harvest is brought in turn by turn. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mMjVkK95T3U/VsB508tIiJI/AAAAAAAABB4/k-LsEh3rbBs/s1600/Ziro_harvesting5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="374" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mMjVkK95T3U/VsB508tIiJI/AAAAAAAABB4/k-LsEh3rbBs/s400/Ziro_harvesting5.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Threshing the paddy immediately. Unlike in other <br />parts of India where harvesting is completed <br />before threshing starts</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2ZQiZsIrO38/VsB6Hd58LNI/AAAAAAAABCA/ALmn-Pm7rPA/s1600/Ziro_mkt2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="326" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2ZQiZsIrO38/VsB6Hd58LNI/AAAAAAAABCA/ALmn-Pm7rPA/s400/Ziro_mkt2.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Local market in Ziro. Early mornings are the <br />best time to see the markets in full flow</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oIrjqX28QyA/VsB6OF77ItI/AAAAAAAABCI/8MX0AEn4eFk/s1600/DSC01590.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="377" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oIrjqX28QyA/VsB6OF77ItI/AAAAAAAABCI/8MX0AEn4eFk/s400/DSC01590.JPG" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Prized larvae that is found near the river beds in autumn. <br />It is considered such a delicacy that word of this haul had <br />spread & right before our eyes, it was sold out, in minutes</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; text-align: center;">The older women of the Apatani tribe were tattooed and wore large nose plugs. (They were shy and hesitant to be photographed, so I didn't get too many photos.) It's a tradition </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; text-align: center;">that has been banned consensually by the tribe itself. The youngest lady we saw with the tattoos (no nose-plug though) seemed to be in her mid-40s. The legends (<a href="http://www.beautyaroundme.com/weird-nose-plugs-of-the-women/" target="_blank">1</a> & <a href="http://www.e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=news_section.Press_Release.Press_Release_2013.Mo_Naga_recreate_tribal_tattoos_in_contemporary_style_for_younger_generation_20131117" target="_blank">2</a>) around the tradition are many but soon the nose plugs and tattoos will no longer be seen but the stories will survive. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">An elderly Apatani woman with the trademark <br />nose plugs and tattooed face.</span> </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AI1hyo-K3I8/VsCQAaErELI/AAAAAAAABCw/pPfSLHjLIaM/s1600/man.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="380" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AI1hyo-K3I8/VsCQAaErELI/AAAAAAAABCw/pPfSLHjLIaM/s400/man.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Apatani man off to work in the fields/ forests </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zWh662ob9fM/VsCUuoBg4EI/AAAAAAAABDg/btMSQySWeEo/s1600/DSC06570.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="500" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zWh662ob9fM/VsCUuoBg4EI/AAAAAAAABDg/btMSQySWeEo/s400/DSC06570.JPG" width="374" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Houses built on stilts with ritualistic<br />symbols in & around each home.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q0rk5pDmDeI/VsCVZPz-hfI/AAAAAAAABDs/Y7G6qTAvfIY/s1600/DSC06576.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="500" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q0rk5pDmDeI/VsCVZPz-hfI/AAAAAAAABDs/Y7G6qTAvfIY/s400/DSC06576.JPG" width="374" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>Babos</i> or ceremonial poles are seen in individual <br />homes as well as in the central square in the village. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The houses of the Apatani (like in many other tribes in Arunachal Pradesh) are built on stilts. This allows them to keep livestock below the house as well as keeps the cold from seeping up through the earth. Ziro can get pretty cold in winters, it seems. The </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: center;">construction of <i>babos</i> during the <i>Myoko</i> festival centres around it being a fertility symbol. <a href="http://learntanii.blogspot.in/2011/08/myoko-myth-and-practice-of-various.html" target="_blank"><i>Myoko</i></a> is a month long festival held in March and it seems like a thanksgiving for nature's bounties and prayers for a good harvest. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: center;">Shaman's play a huge role in the lives of the Apatani. The tribe are sun-moon worshippers (Dyoni-Polo) though many have converted to Christianity in recent times. They manage to happily co-exist with these two religions in their lives. :) In and around each house we saw symbols to as per the instructions of the local shaman. Depending on what was required - warding off evil or protection of the Gods etc. the symbol would differ. But they were a bit spooky - some with egg shells or feathers on bamboo sticks.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UXjce5xXhTc/VsCVfOdLNXI/AAAAAAAABD0/3O_i3S3VWg4/s1600/Ziro_weddinghouse1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UXjce5xXhTc/VsCVfOdLNXI/AAAAAAAABD0/3O_i3S3VWg4/s400/Ziro_weddinghouse1.jpg" width="333" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Each home here has a central fireplace <br />where all the cooking and eating takes place.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: center;">The open fireplace is meant to warm </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: center;">the </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: center;">rest of the house too. They have </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: center;">rooms </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: center;">leading off this main area, partitioned </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: center;">by woven </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: center;">bamboo </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: center;">matting which makes it easier for the heat to permeate..</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DFPtM3RWhaw/VsCVm-VqAhI/AAAAAAAABD8/Ge2TC9Emq_o/s1600/DSC06584.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="374" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DFPtM3RWhaw/VsCVm-VqAhI/AAAAAAAABD8/Ge2TC9Emq_o/s400/DSC06584.JPG" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Above the fireplace is space to keep meat which is<br />allowed to naturally smoke and dry. The longer the meat<br />is dried the tastier it is & therefore more valuable</span>.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QjUT_SKcZCI/VsCVtZOMnbI/AAAAAAAABEE/1Huy7YYAOQg/s1600/Ziro_Apatanigrave2_shaman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QjUT_SKcZCI/VsCVtZOMnbI/AAAAAAAABEE/1Huy7YYAOQg/s400/Ziro_Apatanigrave2_shaman.jpg" width="345" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">At the graveyard, structures are put up <br />depending on the manner of death, the <br />gender & the role of the person in the community.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The graveyard was simple but again quite eerie. When we were there, a shaman had just been interred and his grave was covered with a lattice of bamboo sticks adorned with feathers, egg shells and sprinkled with blood from a sacrificial chicken (in the foreground of the photo). There were similar structures all around but the shaman is considered the most important person in the village and therefore had the most impressive grave too. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We had a great guide who being an Apatani himself was able to take us around the villages, meet the tribes people and even gate-crash a wedding ceremony. The people were warm, friendly and very welcoming. Such a contrast to our busy city lives where strangers are kept at an arm's (and a leg's) distance. But then I say this each time I meet people far, far away from urbanised life. There's a greater sense of community, belonging and far less cynicism than us city dwellers. </span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aX0QoRgbbCw/VsCQivyWpNI/AAAAAAAABC4/oLTErvsfqwY/s1600/DSC06609.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="436" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aX0QoRgbbCw/VsCQivyWpNI/AAAAAAAABC4/oLTErvsfqwY/s400/DSC06609.JPG" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">A wedding feast in progress. We were privileged and very<br />grateful to have been allowed a glimpse into their rituals.</span></td></tr>
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Woolgathererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10422696282109435691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3969508333279229982.post-13802233457643976362015-10-14T00:01:00.000+05:302015-10-14T00:01:03.027+05:30Autumn marches in<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A few days ago a friend posted this poem on Facebook. Rather than take it literally, I felt it was resonant of the season. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Do not stand at my grave and weep;</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I am not there. I do not sleep.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I am a thousand winds that blow.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I am the diamond glints on snow.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I am the sunlight on ripened grain.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I am the gentle autumn rain.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When you awaken in the morning's hush</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I am the swift uplifting rush</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Of quiet birds in circled flight.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I am the soft stars that shine at night.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Do not stand at my grave and cry;</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I am not there.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I did not die.</span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">~ Mary Frye</span></i><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KVJrLUfx3Ig/Vh1KjrAxSYI/AAAAAAAABAg/5qEdojSnigo/s1600/autumn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KVJrLUfx3Ig/Vh1KjrAxSYI/AAAAAAAABAg/5qEdojSnigo/s400/autumn.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">As autumn marches in and all living things buckle down for the winter (including people like me), we've got to remember that spring will come again. The sun will shine brighter, longer and warmer. We just need a little patience & a whole lot of hot chocolate. Preferably spiced! :)</span></div>
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Woolgathererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10422696282109435691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3969508333279229982.post-73684330064715293112015-09-30T18:11:00.000+05:302016-02-14T15:30:30.185+05:30North Eastern Odyssey 1 - Kohima <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Towards the end of 2013 I had visited some of the North Eastern states in India. I can't believe it's been two years. It was a very memorable trip as it was my first lengthy road trip. Almost 15 days of travelling around Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Nagaland <a href="http://gonewoolgathering.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/country-roads.html" target="_blank">by road</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">To be honest, it wasn't like my friend and I had much of an option. The train and air services are almost non-existent to & in these parts and bus services infrequent. I did have misgivings while starting out and it did have its share of hitches, but, I must say that I did enjoy myself thoroughly. The places were beautiful, the countryside we was breathtaking and the people were genuinely warm and welcoming. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I had always meant to write about that trip and I did highlight some features but I never got around to completing the posts. Hopefully, I can finish it now.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Better late than never, methinks! ;)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>State Museum of Nagaland, Kohima</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Museums in India, especially in non-Metro cities aren't exactly well maintained or displayed to maximum effect. It's unfortunate because our country has so so much to offer and showcase. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">My expectations were fairly low when I went into the museum in Kohima. But, I am happy to say that I was pleasantly surprised. The museum grounds have stone sculptures displayed from the Eastern states which I unfortunately didn't photograph. Within the building, it was well lit, the artefacts displayed and labelled properly. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The museum covers the cultures and traditions of the many tribes that form Nagaland - way of life, clothes, jewellery, occupation etc. Also, that head-hunting was very literal unlike what we know today as 'professional headhunting'. ;)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">There's a small section housing paintings/ art about and from Nagaland. I think these are fairly contemporary but interesting nevertheless. </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-irEpQZuGrAc/VgvS5AkQwHI/AAAAAAAAA_I/tsa7iNgbREE/s1600/chair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-irEpQZuGrAc/VgvS5AkQwHI/AAAAAAAAA_I/tsa7iNgbREE/s640/chair.jpg" width="416" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Chair assembled using elephant bones</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6vGnfSFOv7o/VgvS9FOOOSI/AAAAAAAAA_Q/3nzZOXSHosg/s1600/bracelets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6vGnfSFOv7o/VgvS9FOOOSI/AAAAAAAAA_Q/3nzZOXSHosg/s400/bracelets.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Spiked armbands worn by both men and women<br />of the Konyak tribe</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EXHkhjL0yvU/VgvS9f5jaCI/AAAAAAAAA_U/wpvKHtcm74E/s1600/neckps1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="355" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EXHkhjL0yvU/VgvS9f5jaCI/AAAAAAAAA_U/wpvKHtcm74E/s400/neckps1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Brass choker worn by men of the Chang tribe</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6uwStnkDH3M/VgvS9Q9tuYI/AAAAAAAAA_Y/W3Icff28-74/s1600/neckps2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="366" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6uwStnkDH3M/VgvS9Q9tuYI/AAAAAAAAA_Y/W3Icff28-74/s400/neckps2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Brass choker worn by men of the Chang tribe</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IA3s0caRXYU/VgvTAz7WoJI/AAAAAAAAA_o/qnDrAfllD-M/s1600/HH.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IA3s0caRXYU/VgvTAz7WoJI/AAAAAAAAA_o/qnDrAfllD-M/s400/HH.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Head-hunting was the practise in many tribes. These <br />are real trophies taken during head-hunting raids.<br />By far the most popular display!</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RAg3tliuFog/VgvTE5a1QwI/AAAAAAAAA_0/nKOM8EWn52E/s1600/neckps3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RAg3tliuFog/VgvTE5a1QwI/AAAAAAAAA_0/nKOM8EWn52E/s400/neckps3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Naome were worn by Konyak warriors & tiger's teeth <br />pendants (far left) were worn by men from<br />Tuensang district</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2rVDJwdzWWA/VgvTEr6lJvI/AAAAAAAAA_w/1Zt_9ZNDEdc/s1600/neckps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="165" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2rVDJwdzWWA/VgvTEr6lJvI/AAAAAAAAA_w/1Zt_9ZNDEdc/s400/neckps.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">These coloured beads belong to women of the Konyak tribe</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bArt_o9Z91E/VgvTHtYuVTI/AAAAAAAABAE/7RIfjnZZbNE/s1600/raincover1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bArt_o9Z91E/VgvTHtYuVTI/AAAAAAAABAE/7RIfjnZZbNE/s400/raincover1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Rain gear used to protect themselves from the torrential<br />downpours while working in the fields or out of doors</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K3YKTT7tS34/VgvTHm08EwI/AAAAAAAABAA/f-OI1IgSwpE/s1600/raincover2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K3YKTT7tS34/VgvTHm08EwI/AAAAAAAABAA/f-OI1IgSwpE/s400/raincover2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Another form of rain gear</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--7OFcc_NhzA/VgvTJ6SCnII/AAAAAAAABAQ/5a0wB6PxnTo/s1600/painting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--7OFcc_NhzA/VgvTJ6SCnII/AAAAAAAABAQ/5a0wB6PxnTo/s400/painting.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">One of the paintings from the gallery</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">If you travel to Kohima and like anthropology and history, don't miss out on this museum. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Note:</b> Since the artefacts are behind glass cases, it's difficult to photograph. I wasn't able to take too many photos of the displays. But, I did find <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ks_bluechip/sets/72157628770366015/with/6657204649/" target="_blank">a great collection</a> on the internet, incase you're interested in seeing more.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">My other posts on the North East of India:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://gonewoolgathering.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/peace-eternal-rest.html" target="_blank">World War II Cemetery, Kohima</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://gonewoolgathering.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/razhu-pru-cosy-comfortable.html" target="_blank">Razhu Pru (boutique hotel), Kohima</a></span></div>
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Woolgathererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10422696282109435691noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3969508333279229982.post-22697112418900068142015-09-22T04:43:00.003+05:302015-09-22T04:43:45.524+05:30Women power in Vietnam<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This interesting place was opened to the public in 1995. It takes you through the life and culture of Vietnamese peoples especially the women. Well planned, the museum has audio-visual displays, photographs, models as well as historical objects to cover various issues. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The exhibits are all about women - from different ethnic groups, their role in family life, their occupations/ professions, fashion and even their role in the different wars and revolutions in Vietnam. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As surreal and fantastic the <a href="http://gonewoolgathering.blogspot.in/2015/03/ho-chi-minh-complex-where-hero-worship.html" target="_blank">Ho Chi Minh museum</a> was, this museum was more realistic in depicting the joys, struggles, hardships and achievements of Vietnamese women. You can see the immense contribution women make to Vietnamese society.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A visit that I made with a bit of scepticism, expecting a large dose of propaganda. It was anything but. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The museum was well worth the entry fee (approx Rs. 85/ $1.3 in 2014) and the couple of hours I spent in the place. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A few photographs from the visit.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GtjCYgbKgWE/VgB_FZrvsbI/AAAAAAAAA9g/_zWJ8Ht27-k/s1600/IMG_0312.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="317" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GtjCYgbKgWE/VgB_FZrvsbI/AAAAAAAAA9g/_zWJ8Ht27-k/s400/IMG_0312.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The modern and colourful building housing the <br />Vietnamese Women's Museum</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ih0FH7l4TbQ/VgB_JIkX9kI/AAAAAAAAA9o/GF9MWbD8iA0/s1600/IMG_0299.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ih0FH7l4TbQ/VgB_JIkX9kI/AAAAAAAAA9o/GF9MWbD8iA0/s400/IMG_0299.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The circular central skylight with a display of beautiful <br />paper lamps. Exhibition rooms on the various floors <br />open into this central space.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J0WKJfzdohg/VgB_OAT0o8I/AAAAAAAAA9w/bHtWPyZZqqc/s1600/IMG_0296.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="337" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J0WKJfzdohg/VgB_OAT0o8I/AAAAAAAAA9w/bHtWPyZZqqc/s400/IMG_0296.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Worship of the Mother Goddess.<br />(<a href="http://www.australianholidayvisas.com/2012/01/mother-goddesses-worship-at-vietnamese.html" target="_blank">More info</a>) </span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AVsz5qSjCio/VgCAPH0bYMI/AAAAAAAAA98/TrVnIp9_J1M/s1600/IMG_0297.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="345" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AVsz5qSjCio/VgCAPH0bYMI/AAAAAAAAA98/TrVnIp9_J1M/s400/IMG_0297.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Votive offerings made of paper and bamboo is an <br />income generating small industry in Vietnam. <br />The horse in the previous photograph is another <br />example of such an offering.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RIPAS4BnScU/VgCASjQzBpI/AAAAAAAAA-E/kJi7Az28O7c/s1600/IMG_0303.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="208" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RIPAS4BnScU/VgCASjQzBpI/AAAAAAAAA-E/kJi7Az28O7c/s400/IMG_0303.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Some objects used by women soldiers during the wars<br />including a water bottle, sandals and a notebook of poems</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pZoaNFVcBEA/VgCAV7HNSqI/AAAAAAAAA-M/wh8lfUUh0K4/s1600/IMG_0304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="246" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pZoaNFVcBEA/VgCAV7HNSqI/AAAAAAAAA-M/wh8lfUUh0K4/s400/IMG_0304.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">More objects from the war including mechanic's tools, <br />a driving licence and a rear view mirror.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8fhq8XMSBI8/VgCAYgrrYzI/AAAAAAAAA-U/HeZcy1X8-4E/s1600/IMG_0306.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8fhq8XMSBI8/VgCAYgrrYzI/AAAAAAAAA-U/HeZcy1X8-4E/s640/IMG_0306.JPG" width="338" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Traditional dress worn by women of a specific <br />ethnic group. Most exhibits were of ceremonial<br />dresses and wedding clothes.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8whwad54-r4/VgCAbHQCOmI/AAAAAAAAA-c/8fvb0oyVjQQ/s1600/IMG_0307.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8whwad54-r4/VgCAbHQCOmI/AAAAAAAAA-c/8fvb0oyVjQQ/s400/IMG_0307.JPG" width="282" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">More dresses worn by women from <br />different ethnic groups. The paper <br />lamps form a pretty backdrop.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2LoeyqGkHAY/VgCMrOIpmAI/AAAAAAAAA-8/dC5Ugy_1Pc8/s1600/IMG_0294.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="330" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2LoeyqGkHAY/VgCMrOIpmAI/AAAAAAAAA-8/dC5Ugy_1Pc8/s400/IMG_0294.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A class of school children were taking a tour around<br />the museum. As imagined these tiny ones were bored<br />out of their skulls. Age appropriate activities, anyone?!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">There was also a special exhibition of traditional Vietnamese dresses worn in movies, theatre productions and for special occasions. I gathered they were terribly expensive and treated like heirlooms. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yimmPneYU1E/VgCL0JfJlYI/AAAAAAAAA-o/6ucCHjLcEBc/s1600/IMG_0288.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yimmPneYU1E/VgCL0JfJlYI/AAAAAAAAA-o/6ucCHjLcEBc/s400/IMG_0288.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Classic traditional dresses</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LL6pUtNXKLc/VgCL1iYn0II/AAAAAAAAA-w/-tQLKll9XLQ/s1600/designs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LL6pUtNXKLc/VgCL1iYn0II/AAAAAAAAA-w/-tQLKll9XLQ/s400/designs.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Exquisite embroidery on the dresses</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">For more details on the museum: <a href="http://baotangphunu.org.vn/">http://baotangphunu.org.vn/</a>, though some information is outdated. The website is available in English & French too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I think it's high time India puts together one too if only to reinforce the importance of women in society. We have such a dichotomy in our country, where women are breaking barriers in various fields while at the same time they are treated worse than cattle in some parts of the country. </span></div>
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Woolgathererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10422696282109435691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3969508333279229982.post-32130029046870996692015-09-22T00:07:00.001+05:302015-09-22T00:07:55.075+05:30Churches in Hanoi<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I visited two churches in Hanoi. There aren't many non-Buddhist / Taoist places of worship in Hanoi, for obvious reasons. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">One was <b>St. Joseph's Cathedral</b>, the oldest in the city. It was built by the French in 1886 supposedly styled after the famous Notre Dame in Paris. It's located in the midst of a bustling shopping area near Hoan Kiem Lake with a number of cafes, restaurants, shops surrounding it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The facade of the cathedral looked unimpressive even though it was of imposing proportions. But once I entered the cathedral, it was a whole different matter. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Richly carved altars and beautiful stained glass peppered the interiors. </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IFjmULoWs5I/VgASh3z_GbI/AAAAAAAAA64/R0EMXiSTSWQ/s1600/IMG_0355.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IFjmULoWs5I/VgASh3z_GbI/AAAAAAAAA64/R0EMXiSTSWQ/s640/IMG_0355.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The imposing facade of St. Joseph's Cathedral</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-avsCzm_5YNg/VgASmxOZWaI/AAAAAAAAA7A/2AR0X4jBilA/s1600/IMG_0374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-avsCzm_5YNg/VgASmxOZWaI/AAAAAAAAA7A/2AR0X4jBilA/s400/IMG_0374.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The little square in front of the church with a statue <br />of Mary & baby Jesus. The inscription reads <br />'Regina Pacis' (Queen of Peace)</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pFyMg5bsVd4/VgASsSkAzyI/AAAAAAAAA7I/Kynu92Ana3Q/s1600/IMG_0315.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pFyMg5bsVd4/VgASsSkAzyI/AAAAAAAAA7I/Kynu92Ana3Q/s640/IMG_0315.JPG" width="472" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A view from the side - one of the two towers & another statue</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ee_9cXGljEs/VgASzIIY_BI/AAAAAAAAA7Q/6ntCoRg28H8/s1600/IMG_0370.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="252" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ee_9cXGljEs/VgASzIIY_BI/AAAAAAAAA7Q/6ntCoRg28H8/s400/IMG_0370.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Interior of the cathedral</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PSesFR4OlCk/VgAS1XfihdI/AAAAAAAAA7Y/rogIAsPa8xw/s1600/IMG_0362.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PSesFR4OlCk/VgAS1XfihdI/AAAAAAAAA7Y/rogIAsPa8xw/s400/IMG_0362.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The main altar</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QDHY8ZzBmf4/VgAS5TpAmmI/AAAAAAAAA7g/gvS3zpVgHLQ/s1600/IMG_0359.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QDHY8ZzBmf4/VgAS5TpAmmI/AAAAAAAAA7g/gvS3zpVgHLQ/s640/IMG_0359.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">An altar on the left side, inside the cathedral</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DZFQAeTx7a8/VgAS7NeaAgI/AAAAAAAAA7o/H7i3_C7alBs/s1600/IMG_0364.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DZFQAeTx7a8/VgAS7NeaAgI/AAAAAAAAA7o/H7i3_C7alBs/s640/IMG_0364.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">An altar on the right side, inside the cathedral</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FmROKZAI7so/VgAS_pb49lI/AAAAAAAAA7w/eZ5zSRH6gJY/s1600/stainedglass2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="275" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FmROKZAI7so/VgAS_pb49lI/AAAAAAAAA7w/eZ5zSRH6gJY/s400/stainedglass2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Beautiful stained glass windows</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E2kXWKW7u9c/VgATBYmWD4I/AAAAAAAAA74/bVqWMCizTJY/s1600/stainedglass1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E2kXWKW7u9c/VgATBYmWD4I/AAAAAAAAA74/bVqWMCizTJY/s400/stainedglass1.jpg" width="366" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Some more pretty stained glass</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MqFb7WH0Emk/VgATEl4qxaI/AAAAAAAAA8A/NdIcBXpXHj8/s1600/interestingpcs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MqFb7WH0Emk/VgATEl4qxaI/AAAAAAAAA8A/NdIcBXpXHj8/s640/interestingpcs.jpg" width="516" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Interesting features outside the cathedral - a mural <br />depicting scenes from the holy scriptures. Also seen is Vietnam's<br />ubiquitous jumble of wires. Below: An old, beautiful bonsai.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eO9_y-lK7ok/VgATH5pYywI/AAAAAAAAA8I/Z7aArtCM_Nc/s1600/IMG_0314.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eO9_y-lK7ok/VgATH5pYywI/AAAAAAAAA8I/Z7aArtCM_Nc/s400/IMG_0314.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A pretty French-colonial style building in the cathedral<br />premises. Probably, the administrative offices and/ or<br />residence of the officials of the cathedral.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The second was the picturesque <b>Cua Bac Church</b>. It was built in 1932 by the French under the supervision of renowned architect and urban planner Ernest Hébrard</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The church is located at the Northern Gate (Cua Bac) of the ancient Thang Long citadel hence its name. Unlike St. Joseph's Cathedral, this church has a prettier exterior but a simpler, roomier interior full of light and space.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dBcer9LKcnw/VgBAzI0fnvI/AAAAAAAAA8U/0PflJFmIc_c/s1600/church_facade.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="235" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dBcer9LKcnw/VgBAzI0fnvI/AAAAAAAAA8U/0PflJFmIc_c/s400/church_facade.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The church facade, bright & welcoming</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Gqa0Bn78Low/VgBA3gw88uI/AAAAAAAAA8c/_GK09DGB7c8/s1600/IMG_0384.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Gqa0Bn78Low/VgBA3gw88uI/AAAAAAAAA8c/_GK09DGB7c8/s400/IMG_0384.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Interior - simple & calming</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CU4RxH3nnTg/VgBA92AAjJI/AAAAAAAAA8k/Etjf6tk8pTY/s1600/IMG_0389.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="255" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CU4RxH3nnTg/VgBA92AAjJI/AAAAAAAAA8k/Etjf6tk8pTY/s400/IMG_0389.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The main altar</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oLvvppn8_qE/VgBBOOvnycI/AAAAAAAAA9A/Z1JEUotrD_k/s1600/stainedglass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="255" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oLvvppn8_qE/VgBBOOvnycI/AAAAAAAAA9A/Z1JEUotrD_k/s400/stainedglass.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Stained glass of Biblical figures in the church.<br />There were a only a few as compared to<br />St. Joseph's Cathedral.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1oMGJBG26sc/VgBBCe5KDXI/AAAAAAAAA8s/Mc-0pGoatxg/s1600/interiors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1oMGJBG26sc/VgBBCe5KDXI/AAAAAAAAA8s/Mc-0pGoatxg/s640/interiors.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Play of light & shadow on the pristine white walls</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6UzznCEluuI/VgBBFvhyjOI/AAAAAAAAA80/Cw11tazDrLk/s1600/IMG_0386.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6UzznCEluuI/VgBBFvhyjOI/AAAAAAAAA80/Cw11tazDrLk/s400/IMG_0386.JPG" width="378" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">One of the murals in the Stations of the Cross</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sMeW7_MLNy4/VgBBcaYMBAI/AAAAAAAAA9M/YKWo8DwrTTk/s1600/IMG_0403.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sMeW7_MLNy4/VgBBcaYMBAI/AAAAAAAAA9M/YKWo8DwrTTk/s400/IMG_0403.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Grotto surrounded by greenery & covered <br />with flowering vines </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RAgxnXvlQns/VgBBYE8kJ3I/AAAAAAAAA9I/fLjRrGnK74s/s1600/round_window.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="175" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RAgxnXvlQns/VgBBYE8kJ3I/AAAAAAAAA9I/fLjRrGnK74s/s400/round_window.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Two views of the prominent window in the church facade</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-a5DVloXvAxs/VgBBf36zH3I/AAAAAAAAA9U/2ztTo9HDLsA/s1600/bonsai.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-a5DVloXvAxs/VgBBf36zH3I/AAAAAAAAA9U/2ztTo9HDLsA/s640/bonsai.jpg" width="448" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">More ageless bonsai</span></td></tr>
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</div>
Woolgathererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10422696282109435691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3969508333279229982.post-92071113162526958762015-09-04T03:48:00.001+05:302015-09-04T17:01:39.654+05:30West Lake & its environs<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I am in a 'retro' mood and plan to post a few from my previous trips. In a way, I'll also be closing my series on Vietnam and my North East India travels. Here, I'm continuing with my <a href="http://gonewoolgathering.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/nuggets-of-hanoi.html" target="_blank">travel through Hanoi</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Hồ Tây as the West Lake is known in Vietnamese is semi-circular and has a long, long... shoreline (Wikipedia reports it as 17 Km). It's the largest among the many lakes that dot the city. It has neat promenades and recreational centres along its banks, making it a popular place for the residents to unwind and relax. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p0Y25UeuKk4/Vei2BEJvJXI/AAAAAAAAA3k/h8kvu3RHdc4/s1600/westlake.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p0Y25UeuKk4/Vei2BEJvJXI/AAAAAAAAA3k/h8kvu3RHdc4/s400/westlake.png" width="337" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The West Lake's boundaries</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">(credit: Google Maps)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RUo4l6L7Znw/Vei2HjxHc3I/AAAAAAAAA3s/gm91H7Osvlw/s1600/IMG_0250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RUo4l6L7Znw/Vei2HjxHc3I/AAAAAAAAA3s/gm91H7Osvlw/s400/IMG_0250.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Further shores of the lake</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AaDeYRI2kqQ/Vei2MDnwKEI/AAAAAAAAA30/htR8hTInKFo/s1600/IMG_0253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AaDeYRI2kqQ/Vei2MDnwKEI/AAAAAAAAA30/htR8hTInKFo/s400/IMG_0253.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">People relaxing along the promenade</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wfEOHy83-vU/Vei2YCTFVKI/AAAAAAAAA38/174tWl-2IEA/s1600/IMG_0254.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wfEOHy83-vU/Vei2YCTFVKI/AAAAAAAAA38/174tWl-2IEA/s400/IMG_0254.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">'Swans' resting at the recreational centre</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The West Lake's banks are also home to two very significant places of worship. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The Quán Thánh temple is one of the </span><a href="http://www.travelfish.org/board/post/vietnam/18153_thang-long-tu-tran---four-saints-temple-protect-hanoi" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;" target="_blank">four sacred temples</a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> built at the four corners of the old city to protect it from malevolent spirits. Quán Thánh protects the northern borders. Today, Hanoi has outgrown those borders and the temples have been absorbed by this ever expanding city. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9Xko6jiJaEg/Vei3mvY-2YI/AAAAAAAAA4I/nrL2vBXW3v0/s1600/IMG_0246.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="338" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9Xko6jiJaEg/Vei3mvY-2YI/AAAAAAAAA4I/nrL2vBXW3v0/s400/IMG_0246.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The picturesque entrance to the temple</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gCjRCZX4B7k/Vei33j6m-GI/AAAAAAAAA4w/k42RA-q8vuo/s1600/elephant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gCjRCZX4B7k/Vei33j6m-GI/AAAAAAAAA4w/k42RA-q8vuo/s400/elephant.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Beautiful idols of holy animal symbols</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nGIHymICP2w/Vei3ug0u1aI/AAAAAAAAA4Y/I3py9Ak5Tl8/s1600/IMG_0233.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nGIHymICP2w/Vei3ug0u1aI/AAAAAAAAA4Y/I3py9Ak5Tl8/s400/IMG_0233.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Incense offerings to the deity</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8b3f2iBpAAo/VejAzHAXhcI/AAAAAAAAA6c/AGzsU-P-EO8/s1600/wall%2Bmurals.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8b3f2iBpAAo/VejAzHAXhcI/AAAAAAAAA6c/AGzsU-P-EO8/s400/wall%2Bmurals.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Antique wall murals on the sides of the main building</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VX97CRh8rBc/Vei3zAY2L3I/AAAAAAAAA4g/dT0aYgU75xE/s1600/shrine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VX97CRh8rBc/Vei3zAY2L3I/AAAAAAAAA4g/dT0aYgU75xE/s640/shrine.jpg" width="305" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The main deity (top) & other altars within</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Quán Thánh was built in the 11th century and is dedicated to the Taoist deity of the North. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FmuDD7jv-wI/Vei33geklnI/AAAAAAAAA4s/UBWepdXh4Mg/s1600/artefacts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FmuDD7jv-wI/Vei33geklnI/AAAAAAAAA4s/UBWepdXh4Mg/s400/artefacts.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Artefacts & ancient bonsai</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FM4r6MjjKkY/VejBS6n8VvI/AAAAAAAAA6k/a42Rhe6RtUY/s1600/lil_pagoda.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="346" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FM4r6MjjKkY/VejBS6n8VvI/AAAAAAAAA6k/a42Rhe6RtUY/s400/lil_pagoda.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A smaller shrine within the premises</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rno3jxP_GiA/Vei3pq4G9HI/AAAAAAAAA4U/VmXedNLyzy4/s1600/IMG_0241.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rno3jxP_GiA/Vei3pq4G9HI/AAAAAAAAA4U/VmXedNLyzy4/s400/IMG_0241.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The entrance from the inside</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Trấn Quốc Pagoda is dedicated to Buddhism and is said to have been built in the 6th century. It was originally built on the banks of the Red river but when the river changed course and threatened to flood it, the pagoda was shifted to the banks of the lake. It lies on off a small strip of land that separates the larger lake body from the smaller one. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eFSoGbJ_hq0/Vei7iqO3V4I/AAAAAAAAA48/zBpuVGiRzgA/s1600/IMG_0256.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eFSoGbJ_hq0/Vei7iqO3V4I/AAAAAAAAA48/zBpuVGiRzgA/s400/IMG_0256.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The pagoda as seen from the causeway</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The Trấn Quốc Pagoda is defined by the tall red tower which is built in tiers. Each tier has tiny alcoves with white statues of the Buddha in them. All around it are smaller shrines. This is a living pagoda where monks continue to reside and pray. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MB58QMjEvK8/Vei8DJEnsyI/AAAAAAAAA5I/kdr0bs3ueDg/s1600/IMG_0258.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MB58QMjEvK8/Vei8DJEnsyI/AAAAAAAAA5I/kdr0bs3ueDg/s400/IMG_0258.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The beautiful gateway to the pagoda complex</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Hvajkd9Qzwc/Vei8DKnNSnI/AAAAAAAAA5E/1qaMiCa67MM/s1600/IMG_0264.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Hvajkd9Qzwc/Vei8DKnNSnI/AAAAAAAAA5E/1qaMiCa67MM/s640/IMG_0264.JPG" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The red tower seen amongst the<br />smaller shrines</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N0RY6aSAScw/Vei9Dm8GlDI/AAAAAAAAA5Y/YbIqIFkgMl4/s1600/IMG_0283.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="332" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N0RY6aSAScw/Vei9Dm8GlDI/AAAAAAAAA5Y/YbIqIFkgMl4/s400/IMG_0283.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Courtyard in front of the main building</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nU1vaWgwdNo/Vei9L-8hitI/AAAAAAAAA5g/pOWUe60PQQ4/s1600/IMG_0268.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nU1vaWgwdNo/Vei9L-8hitI/AAAAAAAAA5g/pOWUe60PQQ4/s400/IMG_0268.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">One of the shrines inside</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FZR64He1mjc/Vei9U9Oq9JI/AAAAAAAAA5o/d5qZxOgV6do/s1600/shrine2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FZR64He1mjc/Vei9U9Oq9JI/AAAAAAAAA5o/d5qZxOgV6do/s640/shrine2.jpg" width="294" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Other ornate altars inside the main building</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">One of the altars had lots of photos pasted on a wooden board with offerings placed in front. I am not entirely sure, but it seemed to be an altar for </span><a href="http://www.vietnam-beauty.com/vietnamese-culture/festivals-and-ceremonies/15-festivals-and-ceremonies/4-vietnamese-ancestor-worship-.html" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;" target="_blank">ancestor worship</a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> which the Vietnamese believe in. Earlier, tablets represented each ancestor but now it seems technology has replaced them with photographs. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vSr2QBIF3Vw/Vei9o9ih1gI/AAAAAAAAA5w/VqteNQsdpYY/s1600/IMG_0277.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="301" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vSr2QBIF3Vw/Vei9o9ih1gI/AAAAAAAAA5w/VqteNQsdpYY/s400/IMG_0277.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Altar for ancestor worship (I think)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Interestingly, there are two familiar sights from back home in this complex - magnificient peepal trees! One inside and one just in front of the entrance. The one inside has grown from a branch taken from the original Bodhi tree in Bodhgaya, Bihar. It was gifted in 1959 by the then President of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad. The one outside the entrance is an offshoot of the gift. A gift that keeps on growing. ;) Pun intended. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G4qHssdVJPo/Vei_WQqbtNI/AAAAAAAAA58/cKUfwBpObrw/s1600/IMG_0270.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G4qHssdVJPo/Vei_WQqbtNI/AAAAAAAAA58/cKUfwBpObrw/s640/IMG_0270.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Bodhi (peepal) tree in the courtyard</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DFnPrgCFwxg/Vei_d2bsvlI/AAAAAAAAA6E/2HFhMMn3hwc/s1600/ooi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DFnPrgCFwxg/Vei_d2bsvlI/AAAAAAAAA6E/2HFhMMn3hwc/s400/ooi.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Interesting features in the pagoda</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The West Lake too has many small parks in its vicinity. I've mentioned two notable ones here, in my opinion, mainly because of the imagery they contained. One park is the memorial to soldiers of the Vietnamese army that fought in the 1940's. The other is a memorial to the anti-French revolutionary, Lý Tự Trọng, executed when he was 17 years old for assaulting French officials. The images are larger than life and strangely awe-inspiring in their proportions. </span><br />
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Maybe, that was the intent of the creators. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ob2P6KJMb6o/Vei__l0rOiI/AAAAAAAAA6M/ku5wYKLDics/s1600/revolution.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="383" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ob2P6KJMb6o/Vei__l0rOiI/AAAAAAAAA6M/ku5wYKLDics/s400/revolution.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Memorial to Vietnamese revolutionaries</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CgqY8aI_mYQ/VejAB5At1bI/AAAAAAAAA6U/f_sPzzUKTTM/s1600/IMG_0249.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="273" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CgqY8aI_mYQ/VejAB5At1bI/AAAAAAAAA6U/f_sPzzUKTTM/s400/IMG_0249.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Memorial to the teenage martyr</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Hồ Tây, one of the pleasanter areas of the bustling capital city and where I enjoyed spending some quiet moments. </span></div>
Woolgathererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10422696282109435691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3969508333279229982.post-10753188340203849412015-08-26T04:02:00.000+05:302015-08-26T04:02:02.984+05:30Fishermen at work<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It has been over a year since I was in Tharangambadi (<a href="http://gonewoolgathering.blogspot.in/2014/11/a-place-where-waves-sing.html" target="_blank">read my earlier posts here</a>) but I still have some great memories of the trip. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UNPxMSyChsI/VGOxDURW17I/AAAAAAAAAfk/1h30pZdarjg/s1600/frombalcony3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UNPxMSyChsI/VGOxDURW17I/AAAAAAAAAfk/1h30pZdarjg/s400/frombalcony3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Dansborg Fort with the fishing boats on the beach</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">One of my most persistent memories was of the fisher-folk who lived along the beach. In the early hours of the morning they would shove off their boats and return sometime mid-morning with whatever they had caught. The fish was then taken to the larger market towns like Karaikal where it would fetch a better price. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I wonder what their lives must be like. Dependent on the benevolence of the sea, each day is uncertain. One day the sea can offer up a fabulous catch while another day a not so good one or maybe the weather will play spoil sport. Incidentally, this stretch of the coast was the main affected area in the 2004 tsunami. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JSVuDq3QFR0/Vdzj226NCqI/AAAAAAAAA2Y/MHak5gtr1S0/s1600/9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JSVuDq3QFR0/Vdzj226NCqI/AAAAAAAAA2Y/MHak5gtr1S0/s400/9.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Old brick walls eroded by the sea or damaged <br />in the tsunami or maybe both</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">As I stood watching, these hardworking fisherfolk went about their work with single-minded focus. They had to make sure the fish reached the markets as soon as possible, especially on a warm, sunny day. They cheerfully answered my questions but conversing wasn't easy because of the language. In a couple of hours all the fish had been unloaded, sorted and carted away. Just a few men remained behind, tidying the nets for the next day's trip out. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y9ccK2g6oVE/VdzkSOfIv8I/AAAAAAAAA2g/-O6N9OOXSc0/s1600/2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y9ccK2g6oVE/VdzkSOfIv8I/AAAAAAAAA2g/-O6N9OOXSc0/s400/2.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A closer view of the boats near the fort</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ts7AR8W53uM/VdzkSX22yXI/AAAAAAAAA2k/31O_U9T1Acg/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ts7AR8W53uM/VdzkSX22yXI/AAAAAAAAA2k/31O_U9T1Acg/s400/3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Unloading the catch (of fish) from the boat</span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8em9Yiq_gGM/VdzkSUOfnqI/AAAAAAAAA2o/t9lMGC8VKE4/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8em9Yiq_gGM/VdzkSUOfnqI/AAAAAAAAA2o/t9lMGC8VKE4/s400/4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--2gjPvmofFE/VdzkTLSJ4qI/AAAAAAAAA3I/VaQlWpcSbFw/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--2gjPvmofFE/VdzkTLSJ4qI/AAAAAAAAA3I/VaQlWpcSbFw/s400/5.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Fish all tangled up, waiting to be sorted</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PpdIHg4q-Ss/VdzkTWlJM3I/AAAAAAAAA24/FrgMo1OB5_Y/s1600/7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PpdIHg4q-Ss/VdzkTWlJM3I/AAAAAAAAA24/FrgMo1OB5_Y/s400/7.jpg" width="337" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Bringing the boat in</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jNLFYPyZZ0E/VdzkTZt0SaI/AAAAAAAAA20/TMAg_zM5pgg/s1600/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jNLFYPyZZ0E/VdzkTZt0SaI/AAAAAAAAA20/TMAg_zM5pgg/s400/6.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Fishermen resting and mending the nets <br />in readiness for the next trip</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">My sojourn in Tranquebar was short but sweet. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The tranquil sea and the soporific effect of waves washing against the shore might have enticed me to stay on longer. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Besides the usual sight seeing, it's the little things like watching life go by, listening to the sounds of nature, the physical journey by road or train (by air, not so much!) which makes travelling so much more interesting and enriching. Don't you think?</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3tLFBltLowA/Vdznc7nlpPI/AAAAAAAAA3U/8biLsA2cmCo/s1600/10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3tLFBltLowA/Vdznc7nlpPI/AAAAAAAAA3U/8biLsA2cmCo/s400/10.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Nature taking back its lost ground</span></td></tr>
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Woolgathererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10422696282109435691noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3969508333279229982.post-89041319868819404082015-06-22T12:02:00.000+05:302015-06-22T12:02:40.129+05:30Old friends<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When I was younger, my mother often complained to me "Your life revolves around your friends, nothing else seems to matter." By 'nothing else', she meant my studies, spending time with family etc. She conveniently ignored all the books I read... in copious amounts. But I digress.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In school, my friends were split into one 'best friend' and other 'good friends'. On hindsight, it was such a strange way of seeing things. Had it been today's times, my parents would have certainly bundled me off to a shrink. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I don't know how the notion got into my head but I truly believed that I could not have more than one best friend. Maybe, it came from reading too many Enid Blyton's where the child protagonist always had one best friend amongst many friends. In any case at any given point in my life, I didn't have too many friends, just 2-3 who were my closest and only friends. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As I grew older I remember realising with some degree of surprise and shock that there were best friends who had moved on from being my best friend to a friend with whom I had fleeting conversations - on birthdays or special occasions only. This was maybe sometime after college when my friends and I got jobs, moved cities, got married... generally life happened. I was making a new set of friends just as they were too. The whole concept of best friends had undergone a change in my head. It became redundant. There were now only good friends. No less valued but not singled out specially, either. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Looking back, there also are those who were good friends, even best friends and one day were no longer in touch. Some I did anticipate going out of my life while some were rather sudden and without warning.</span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1x_QfZNmpfo/VYem6Q4pDoI/AAAAAAAAA2I/cfJf6F4xbIs/s1600/somefriends.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><img border="0" height="279" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1x_QfZNmpfo/VYem6Q4pDoI/AAAAAAAAA2I/cfJf6F4xbIs/s320/somefriends.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pic courtesy: Google Search</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I believe, consciously or subconsciously, as we grow older, most of us take stock of our lives - we choose the people we want to spend time with and distance ourselves from those we don't. Not because we've become mean and nasty but because we've moved on from that phase of our life. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">To those friends who were with me in certain phases of my life and are no longer around, I am thankful to have met them. They were there for me when I needed a shoulder to lean on and in return I hope I was a good friend to them too. Even if we no longer keep in touch, I know I will always appreciate what they did for me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I continue to have good friends - a few, not many - therefore all the more precious. They've heard me rave, rant and b***h - on the phone and in person, been with me when I was unwell and in hospital, when I shifted homes and needed an extra pair of hands, when I was alone in a new city and needed to learn my way around... it's a long list. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I am truly fortunate and very grateful. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Old friends,</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Sat on their park bench</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Like bookends.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>...</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Can you imagine us</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Years from today,</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Sharing a park bench quietly?</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>~ Simon & Garfunkel</i></span></div>
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Woolgathererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10422696282109435691noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3969508333279229982.post-84497330878497569002015-04-21T02:11:00.000+05:302015-04-21T02:11:20.879+05:30Temple bells<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Bells in temples, especially Hindu, shouldn't be a surprise. But have you ever seen a temple covered in bells? So much so that you can't see the original structure of the temple. It's as if the bells are the building materials of the temple. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I lived in the temple's neighbourhood for years and had no idea it even existed. After I moved out, I came across some info on the world wide web which mentioned the temple. It seemed such an interesting place that I had to visit it when I was in the area next.</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xo3suj3uUUE/VTVfDowZmmI/AAAAAAAAA1I/YBm4rxJZvZA/s1600/temple4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="bell hanuman temple khar mumbai" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xo3suj3uUUE/VTVfDowZmmI/AAAAAAAAA1I/YBm4rxJZvZA/s1600/temple4.jpg" height="400" title="" width="392" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I usually visit places of worship when they are of interest architecturally or visually or have some curious folklore surrounding it. The bell temple fell into the latter category. I was there on a Saturday and found that it was one of the main days for worship. The place was crowded and since the temple borders a park which forms a junction of several roads, it was a bit chaotic. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The temple is officially known as the 'Sri Hanuman Ghanteshwar Mandir' and is located at Madhu Park, Khar (W), Mumbai. It's dedicated to Hanuman, the Monkey God from Hinduism. I am not sure of the origins of the temple but the lore surrounding it is that you have to pray for your heart's desire. When (and not 'if') the wish is fulfilled, you must go back and tie a bell. The belief in the deity can be seen from the numerous bells that literally cover the entire structure of the temple. </span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-znC8H2vWr2g/VTVfTkqpaII/AAAAAAAAA1Q/EGWpUXesJ40/s1600/temple3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="bell hanuman temple khar mumbai" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-znC8H2vWr2g/VTVfTkqpaII/AAAAAAAAA1Q/EGWpUXesJ40/s1600/temple3.jpg" height="400" title="" width="327" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-luJDUgXsWwc/VTVfbR3VREI/AAAAAAAAA1Y/VEqqR87uihU/s1600/temple2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="bell hanuman temple khar mumbai" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-luJDUgXsWwc/VTVfbR3VREI/AAAAAAAAA1Y/VEqqR87uihU/s1600/temple2.jpg" height="640" title="" width="360" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f2yexvyyJmY/VTVfknaZN5I/AAAAAAAAA1g/Y3FunyuXnkQ/s1600/temple1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="bell hanuman temple khar mumbai" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f2yexvyyJmY/VTVfknaZN5I/AAAAAAAAA1g/Y3FunyuXnkQ/s1600/temple1.jpg" height="281" title="" width="500" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Due to all the crowd and traffic, I had to take photos from across the road. Photography is not allowed (I wonder why?) and there are sign boards informing you of the same. But I hadn't noticed these signs until I started clicking pictures and a security guard came running to shoo me away. The photographs are not particularly great but hopefully it'll suffice to give you an idea of what I saw. </span></div>
Woolgathererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10422696282109435691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3969508333279229982.post-16134305225569781162015-03-31T02:48:00.003+05:302015-03-31T02:48:46.127+05:30Ho Chi Minh Complex: Where hero worship and art meet<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Ho Chi Minh (HCM) Complex lies alongside Ba Dinh Square. In 1945, President Ho Chi Minh read the Proclamation of Independence here at this humongous square. It is flanked by the Assembly Hall on one side and the HCM Mausoleum on the other.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zBg2_FmyBiM/VRmi65QOsVI/AAAAAAAAAyA/li4fLlfgqnI/s1600/assemblyhall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zBg2_FmyBiM/VRmi65QOsVI/AAAAAAAAAyA/li4fLlfgqnI/s1600/assemblyhall.jpg" height="255" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The new Assembly Hall</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rMGKpCZ8m1Q/VRmi0nMv60I/AAAAAAAAAx4/bLyDphcJMjU/s1600/mausoleum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rMGKpCZ8m1Q/VRmi0nMv60I/AAAAAAAAAx4/bLyDphcJMjU/s1600/mausoleum.jpg" height="158" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The HCM Complex consists of the Presidential Palace, HCM's House on Stilts, the HCM Mausoleum and the HCM Museum. There's also a pagoda - One Pillar Pagoda - within the complex. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The HCM Mausoleum overlooks Ba Dinh Square and houses the embalmed body of HCM. It is an impressive collonaded monument in grey marble and granite designed to reflect the stature of the renowned statesman resting here. At the time I visited the complex, the mausoleum was closed for maintenance so I missed seeing it from the inside. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Presidential Palace was built by the French in the early 1900s for the the Governor of Indochina. As a symbolic gesture, HCM refused to live in the palace when he became president of independent Vietnam. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The palace itself is out of bounds for visitors though one can tour the grounds which are lush green, calm and peaceful. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Vg90gRHGLlc/VN7isgD4_wI/AAAAAAAAAqM/B5HK-ve1X38/s1600/presidentialpalace.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Vg90gRHGLlc/VN7isgD4_wI/AAAAAAAAAqM/B5HK-ve1X38/s1600/presidentialpalace.JPG" height="332" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A view of the Presidential Palace from the outside</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A smaller, more traditional wooden home was built for him on the grounds of the Presidential Palace - today known as HCM's House on Stilts. The house is surrounded by fruit trees, bamboo, carp ponds and smaller buildings which were used as his residence, offices, meeting rooms and garages.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9vReGE7SDGQ/VRmkI5z6wkI/AAAAAAAAAyM/q3EK9zACgOQ/s1600/woodenhome.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9vReGE7SDGQ/VRmkI5z6wkI/AAAAAAAAAyM/q3EK9zACgOQ/s1600/woodenhome.jpg" height="332" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Ho Chi Minh's house on stilts with the bedroom on the first floor <br />and a meeting space on the ground floor</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N-gdjlE0wdE/VRmkQzqio6I/AAAAAAAAAyU/2rFWCskEEy8/s1600/pond.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N-gdjlE0wdE/VRmkQzqio6I/AAAAAAAAAyU/2rFWCskEEy8/s1600/pond.jpg" height="332" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The large carp pond within the premises</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3bCtamyiiWU/VRmkWtCu_GI/AAAAAAAAAyc/bi_K0r33HOU/s1600/pond2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3bCtamyiiWU/VRmkWtCu_GI/AAAAAAAAAyc/bi_K0r33HOU/s1600/pond2.jpg" height="332" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Roots of the cypress tree grow out of the water creating <br />interesting patterns</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZVzp9GwVEdw/VRmkltuOjUI/AAAAAAAAAyk/ZZED32nz_uU/s1600/office.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZVzp9GwVEdw/VRmkltuOjUI/AAAAAAAAAyk/ZZED32nz_uU/s1600/office.jpg" height="315" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Other buildings housing HCM's residential and official areas</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xFA-fNePKlY/VRmku496YAI/AAAAAAAAAys/QlEKrZe_PZs/s1600/garage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xFA-fNePKlY/VRmku496YAI/AAAAAAAAAys/QlEKrZe_PZs/s1600/garage.jpg" height="377" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">HCM's garage with his cars. Mainly of Soviet make.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The One Pillar Pagoda was first built in 1049 AD in the middle of a lotus pond based on a dream the then king had. He dreamt that a celestial being handed him a son while seated on a lotus flower. The king did have a son later and he built the pagoda in gratitude. It was built on top of a single pillar signifying the lotus stem and the pagoda itself as the flower. The original pagoda was destroyed by the French during the Indochina War. It was rebuilt later in its current form. In summer the pond is supposed to be covered with lotus blossoms. The pagoda is very popular and has tourists and pilgrims visiting it all year around. Due to the excessive crowds the day I visited, I didn't climb up to see the main shrine.</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FoyFosnoOqY/VRmniLbr7oI/AAAAAAAAAy4/82OalkUJoY0/s1600/pagoda1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FoyFosnoOqY/VRmniLbr7oI/AAAAAAAAAy4/82OalkUJoY0/s1600/pagoda1.jpg" height="586" width="500" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The area had some construction going on and at one end in a makeshift (tin sheets as walls and roof) set-up there was an elaborate shrine. No information indicated why this shrine was placed here.</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vBUnK_YTNLM/VRmnqQfOnFI/AAAAAAAAAzA/PM3QHw9BJXw/s1600/pagoda2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vBUnK_YTNLM/VRmnqQfOnFI/AAAAAAAAAzA/PM3QHw9BJXw/s1600/pagoda2.jpg" height="332" width="500" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The HCM Museum is dedicated to the Vietnamese people's struggles, the revolution and to HCM's ideology. The exhibits are objects and photographs from real life as well as artistic renditions of the revolution and socialist ideology. The museum was conceptualised in the 1970s with the support of the erstwhile Soviet Union which gives you an idea why the exhibits are the way they are. It's unique, surreal and something else, altogether. Even if you don't normally like museums, you will enjoy this one. :)</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eqjCRmJXTzc/VRmpYFm0ogI/AAAAAAAAAzU/9-tOzjRyljw/s1600/flag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eqjCRmJXTzc/VRmpYFm0ogI/AAAAAAAAAzU/9-tOzjRyljw/s1600/flag.jpg" height="332" width="500" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-839PRRcintI/VRmpWTp2inI/AAAAAAAAAzM/-DZu9v8UrpI/s1600/entrance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-839PRRcintI/VRmpWTp2inI/AAAAAAAAAzM/-DZu9v8UrpI/s1600/entrance.jpg" height="332" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Lotus iconography at the entrance</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ffwfz8DGmi0/VRmp903yKFI/AAAAAAAAAzc/2q4_Rf3cTEo/s1600/lobby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ffwfz8DGmi0/VRmp903yKFI/AAAAAAAAAzc/2q4_Rf3cTEo/s1600/lobby.jpg" height="332" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The impressive lobby on the upper floor</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VxKJEaQ0GVI/VN7iqX8rbCI/AAAAAAAAAqE/eIj46lWnXG8/s1600/HCM_museum.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VxKJEaQ0GVI/VN7iqX8rbCI/AAAAAAAAAqE/eIj46lWnXG8/s1600/HCM_museum.JPG" height="454" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The larger than life sculpture of HCM</span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R6Yljq4w7PQ/VRmqbojX5gI/AAAAAAAAAzk/jn7ZfjCImyk/s1600/exhibit2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R6Yljq4w7PQ/VRmqbojX5gI/AAAAAAAAAzk/jn7ZfjCImyk/s1600/exhibit2.jpg" height="332" width="500" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E2F3pTrUszQ/VRmqhR6tkfI/AAAAAAAAAzs/Qn-n48MSVzk/s1600/msg1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E2F3pTrUszQ/VRmqhR6tkfI/AAAAAAAAAzs/Qn-n48MSVzk/s1600/msg1.jpg" height="311" width="500" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3UU7ntWg2i8/VRmqu34TG8I/AAAAAAAAAz0/Z5ueqMVo22M/s1600/exhibit1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3UU7ntWg2i8/VRmqu34TG8I/AAAAAAAAAz0/Z5ueqMVo22M/s1600/exhibit1.jpg" height="426" width="500" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xVpUDWfSukM/VRmqv1t0YXI/AAAAAAAAAz8/QOoPvuFShhI/s1600/exhibit3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xVpUDWfSukM/VRmqv1t0YXI/AAAAAAAAAz8/QOoPvuFShhI/s1600/exhibit3.jpg" height="356" width="500" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u6iUyg3ADts/VRmrCXujXtI/AAAAAAAAA0E/ayNaBtJdH00/s1600/lotus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u6iUyg3ADts/VRmrCXujXtI/AAAAAAAAA0E/ayNaBtJdH00/s1600/lotus.jpg" height="332" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Metallic sculpture of a lotus pond signifies the flower's <br />importance in Vietnam</span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nk0sHpB9d44/VRmrDlj9cvI/AAAAAAAAA0Q/DKGVBVRjeFQ/s1600/picassowall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nk0sHpB9d44/VRmrDlj9cvI/AAAAAAAAA0Q/DKGVBVRjeFQ/s1600/picassowall.jpg" height="250" width="500" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yuZe7qfvAC4/VRmrC0CR7zI/AAAAAAAAA0I/B1YHE9tjvc8/s1600/volcano.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yuZe7qfvAC4/VRmrC0CR7zI/AAAAAAAAA0I/B1YHE9tjvc8/s1600/volcano.jpg" height="625" width="500" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LTHDDMrT0Jk/VRmrFdEF1RI/AAAAAAAAA0c/NLNyNLGVA3o/s1600/war.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LTHDDMrT0Jk/VRmrFdEF1RI/AAAAAAAAA0c/NLNyNLGVA3o/s1600/war.jpg" height="332" width="500" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WHZb1upFf_4/VRmrTvsyJ-I/AAAAAAAAA0k/8_32occ1o5c/s1600/lobby2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WHZb1upFf_4/VRmrTvsyJ-I/AAAAAAAAA0k/8_32occ1o5c/s1600/lobby2.jpg" height="332" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Another view of the lobby. In the foreground in white </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">is an art installation.</span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l2-PDm1vtdg/VRmrccgq-nI/AAAAAAAAA0s/368S_bU14lM/s1600/flag_window.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l2-PDm1vtdg/VRmrccgq-nI/AAAAAAAAA0s/368S_bU14lM/s1600/flag_window.jpg" height="352" width="500" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Note:</b> The lotus is Vietnam's national flower. It is considered auspicious and symbolises purity. The Vietnamese have special regard for it as it grows in the mud but is untainted by the dirt. The flower can be seen in iconography everywhere, as you must have realised from the photographs above. You can also see it sold at florists and outside places of worship. In summer, the ponds and lakes across Vietnam are supposed to be in full bloom and an attraction in themselves.</span></div>
Woolgathererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10422696282109435691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3969508333279229982.post-10797309674365032682015-03-13T04:17:00.000+05:302015-03-19T19:39:01.601+05:30Sword handling turtles<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WBGFeobTQtA/VQIH2fL7qFI/AAAAAAAAAuE/zzUS7TK1uE4/s1600/hoan%2Bkiem.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WBGFeobTQtA/VQIH2fL7qFI/AAAAAAAAAuE/zzUS7TK1uE4/s1600/hoan%2Bkiem.png" height="400" width="252" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Ho Hoan Kiem is a picturesque lake located near the shopping district of Ha Noi. It has a very interesting legend behind it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Emperor Lê Lợi who ruled Vietnam in the 13th century was said to have a very powerful and magical sword which was given to him by one of the Gods to fight the Chinese Ming dynasty. One day when the emperor was boating on the lake, a giant turtle rose up and took the sword away from him. Searching for both turtle and sword proved futile. Emperor Lê Lợi was convinced that the sword had returned to the Gods. The water body was then renamed Ho Hoan Kiem i.e. Lake of the Returned Sword. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In the midst of the lake is a structure very European in architecture. It's <a href="http://en.hanoi.vietnamplus.vn/Home/The-legend-of-Hoan-Kiem-Lake/20099/220.vnplus" target="_blank">origins are strange</a> but today it's known as Thap Rua i.e. Turtle/ Tortoise Tower in honour of the turtle in the legend. The tower has probably stood the test of time as no one is allowed on it except for maintenance purposes.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JjF5dNSuXrQ/VQIIR-G7yfI/AAAAAAAAAuM/M_8zquc9dSk/s1600/island.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JjF5dNSuXrQ/VQIIR-G7yfI/AAAAAAAAAuM/M_8zquc9dSk/s1600/island.jpg" height="355" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Turtle Tower standing like a silent sentinel <br />in the midst of the lake</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A species of soft-shelled </span><a href="http://www.asianturtlenetwork.org/library/news_articles/The_legend_of_the_Hoan_Kiem_Turtle.html" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;" target="_blank">turtles</a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> are inhabitants of the lake though they are sighted very rarely. People gaze into the waters hoping to catch sight of the sacred ones which is considered incredible good fortune. I did too but it wasn't to be my lucky day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">On another island closer to the shore is a temple reached by a red wooden bridge. The Ngoc Son Temple (The Temple of the Jade Mountain) has been dedicated to various figures since it was built but today it is dedicated to three figures - a 13th century Vietnamese military general, a Confucian master and a literary figure. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The temple has three gates before the bridge and a fourth one after crossing the bridge. The gates have auspicious letterings, signs and symbols on them. </span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-So0WMnExM0o/VQIIhtjQvQI/AAAAAAAAAuU/rZQUqdJK6zg/s1600/redbridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-So0WMnExM0o/VQIIhtjQvQI/AAAAAAAAAuU/rZQUqdJK6zg/s1600/redbridge.jpg" height="332" width="500" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NYzvkes7QxI/VQIKpc_h32I/AAAAAAAAAvE/noIQTLNbN34/s1600/gateview.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NYzvkes7QxI/VQIKpc_h32I/AAAAAAAAAvE/noIQTLNbN34/s1600/gateview.jpg" height="332" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Gates 1 & 2 of the temple</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DlvySsOoxjU/VQIKvuFFvkI/AAAAAAAAAvM/N77mtsk7HV0/s1600/gate2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DlvySsOoxjU/VQIKvuFFvkI/AAAAAAAAAvM/N77mtsk7HV0/s1600/gate2.jpg" height="500" width="392" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Gate 3: The top & side panels with auspicious <br />sculptures & messages on it </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--SKfvl_f7M0/VQILDncHJFI/AAAAAAAAAvU/IcMZCQJMkDE/s1600/gate22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--SKfvl_f7M0/VQILDncHJFI/AAAAAAAAAvU/IcMZCQJMkDE/s1600/gate22.jpg" height="250" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Gate 3: the other side, facing the temple</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Inside the shrine besides the altar and offerings to it, there are many interesting artefacts - ancient weapons, sculptures of auspicious birds & animals, intricately shaped bells, huge porcelain vases and decorative flowers. </span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QeURYZ9Q6gY/VQILeXExIWI/AAAAAAAAAvc/tB1zszNx_JA/s1600/shrine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QeURYZ9Q6gY/VQILeXExIWI/AAAAAAAAAvc/tB1zszNx_JA/s1600/shrine.jpg" height="332" width="500" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ErYCUAsKFVE/VQILrwVpk1I/AAAAAAAAAvk/djKMZujIoSY/s1600/artefacts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ErYCUAsKFVE/VQILrwVpk1I/AAAAAAAAAvk/djKMZujIoSY/s1600/artefacts.jpg" height="413" width="500" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5GNc4pFsqx0/VQIMKX6mtJI/AAAAAAAAAvs/lAsK6vh42Qw/s1600/bells.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5GNc4pFsqx0/VQIMKX6mtJI/AAAAAAAAAvs/lAsK6vh42Qw/s1600/bells.jpg" height="353" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Large bells with intricate forms on it</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pecZShuCdfY/VQINH0Z5F1I/AAAAAAAAAwA/zYs5On7ASt4/s1600/worship.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pecZShuCdfY/VQINH0Z5F1I/AAAAAAAAAwA/zYs5On7ASt4/s1600/worship.jpg" height="332" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Worship continues here to this day</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">In a chamber to one side of the main shrine, there is a glass encased body of a giant tortoise that used to live in the lake. The description next to it says it was preserved in 1968. The tortoise then weighed 200 Kgs, it was 2m in length and 1.2m in width. Wow!</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-THLNHv9aEWE/VQrQQ9xasHI/AAAAAAAAAxY/ax8N9etDHCI/s1600/tortoise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-THLNHv9aEWE/VQrQQ9xasHI/AAAAAAAAAxY/ax8N9etDHCI/s1600/tortoise.jpg" height="500" width="343" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JNfqrRNvewE/VQINPOT_X2I/AAAAAAAAAwI/pszPYxtg9rk/s1600/lakeview.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JNfqrRNvewE/VQINPOT_X2I/AAAAAAAAAwI/pszPYxtg9rk/s1600/lakeview.jpg" height="500" width="344" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A view of the lake from the temple premises</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Hoan Kiem has pretty landscaping, walkways and park benches around it making it an a hub for people to rest, relax and enjoy quality time with family and friends. Even late into the night, the area is a buzzing with life. Somewhat akin to Marine Drive in Mumbai or India Gate in Delhi (minus the persistent hawkers). </span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wLZetiPClUI/VQrXuhsJHhI/AAAAAAAAAxk/BMcp1M8J3E8/s1600/ppl_HHK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wLZetiPClUI/VQrXuhsJHhI/AAAAAAAAAxk/BMcp1M8J3E8/s1600/ppl_HHK.jpg" height="332" width="500" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Rvqfahheg9o/VQIO6QFMI6I/AAAAAAAAAwc/AFICfUn7Q7k/s1600/sovenirshop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Rvqfahheg9o/VQIO6QFMI6I/AAAAAAAAAwc/AFICfUn7Q7k/s1600/sovenirshop.jpg" height="281" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A quaint souvenir store outside the temple that seemed <br />to blend into the temple environs.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mSNZIavtP30/VQIOqGFMJ7I/AAAAAAAAAwU/SIbDqNQUtsY/s1600/redbridge2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mSNZIavtP30/VQIOqGFMJ7I/AAAAAAAAAwU/SIbDqNQUtsY/s1600/redbridge2.jpg" height="178" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A view of the bridge to the temple</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o7tXCMrxHvM/VQIPzG8ScpI/AAAAAAAAAwo/9pMF-RNgzjU/s1600/nightview.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o7tXCMrxHvM/VQIPzG8ScpI/AAAAAAAAAwo/9pMF-RNgzjU/s1600/nightview.jpg" height="281" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Night-time view of the lake. Visible is the red bridge<br />and in the distance the lit-up Turtle Tower</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A detailed description of the Ngoc Son Temple can be found </span><a href="http://en.hanoi.vietnamplus.vn/Home/Ngoc-Son-Temple/20099/222.vnplus" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The Vietnamese have dedicated the same temples to different saints and prominent figures over time which I found quite complicated to follow. Ngoc Son itself has been the site of various dedications, this avatar is its fourth.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Thanks to this trip to Hanoi, I also realised there is a difference between a temple (Den in Vietnamese) and a Pagoda. The former can be a community place of worship or dedicated to special people - holy monks, ancestors, national heroes etc. while the latter is Buddhist and dedicated to the Buddha(s). </span></div>
Woolgathererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10422696282109435691noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3969508333279229982.post-81888031959212984962015-03-11T03:45:00.001+05:302015-03-11T03:58:24.271+05:30Art across 4 Kms<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fT4rtsFJI-U/VP9ZBnjm-qI/AAAAAAAAAsc/X9LkpkzFBOw/s1600/longwall1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fT4rtsFJI-U/VP9ZBnjm-qI/AAAAAAAAAsc/X9LkpkzFBOw/s1600/longwall1.jpg" height="150" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The mosaic wall as seen from across the road</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Hanoi boasts of a gorgeous 4 Km long ceramic mosaic wall along the Red River dyke. This mural was created in 2010 to mark the 1,000 year celebrations of the city when it was established as the capital 'Thang Long'. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The designs in the mural incorporate aspects of Vietnamese culture, history and current vistas of the city as you will see below. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The concept involved many Vietnamese and a few international artists who came together to create different designs on the wall. The project was sponsored by various corporates, trusts and organisations, each getting a mention in the mural. The mosaic</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> is structured into two tiers and took three years to complete. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I didn't get to see the entire stretch as it's long-ish walk interrupted by traffic signals and large junctions. But it's worth at least driving past to see the wall in its entirety. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The mosaic wall holds the record in the Guinness</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> Book as the <a href="http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/largest-ceramic-mosaic" target="_blank">largest ceramic mosaic</a> in the world which has also been incorporated into the design of the mural.</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lwkA50qLJAU/VP9ZcEYyVSI/AAAAAAAAAsk/0tMt2fwWAOY/s1600/bridge.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lwkA50qLJAU/VP9ZcEYyVSI/AAAAAAAAAsk/0tMt2fwWAOY/s1600/bridge.jpg" height="281" width="500" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-27AgYLbfsiA/VP9ZxKBizUI/AAAAAAAAAss/eiwYXCvG-eA/s1600/flower1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-27AgYLbfsiA/VP9ZxKBizUI/AAAAAAAAAss/eiwYXCvG-eA/s1600/flower1.jpg" height="281" width="500" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ug-JdSi3eCY/VP9Z8s5SYJI/AAAAAAAAAs8/x0Q47qRvyWk/s1600/fishseller.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ug-JdSi3eCY/VP9Z8s5SYJI/AAAAAAAAAs8/x0Q47qRvyWk/s1600/fishseller.jpg" height="281" width="500" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cOUjyU2Yj4c/VP9apWmlLzI/AAAAAAAAAtE/q5qKJKNiHIk/s1600/longwall2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cOUjyU2Yj4c/VP9apWmlLzI/AAAAAAAAAtE/q5qKJKNiHIk/s1600/longwall2.jpg" height="163" width="500" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pL3hHSgAU1c/VP9awXz3uKI/AAAAAAAAAtM/vWQXIKIuX94/s1600/icons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pL3hHSgAU1c/VP9awXz3uKI/AAAAAAAAAtM/vWQXIKIuX94/s1600/icons.jpg" height="500" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Top, left is the One Pillar Pagoda & right below is one of </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Hanoi's many skyscrapers representing its modern face.</span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ffJ7X-ESpS8/VP9a4151F1I/AAAAAAAAAtU/HCVv1a7mjCA/s1600/music.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ffJ7X-ESpS8/VP9a4151F1I/AAAAAAAAAtU/HCVv1a7mjCA/s1600/music.jpg" height="281" width="500" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xPCACcO5i8s/VP9bQ4Paz-I/AAAAAAAAAtc/tLK8iw2xNp8/s1600/waterbike.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xPCACcO5i8s/VP9bQ4Paz-I/AAAAAAAAAtc/tLK8iw2xNp8/s1600/waterbike.jpg" height="151" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Quintessential Vietnam: the ubiquitous two-wheeler, propaganda art <br />style poster & the mosaic wall in the backdrop.</span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m9zRQEtgmKk/VP9bcCP8dZI/AAAAAAAAAtk/N0z_gYxLOqs/s1600/flower3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m9zRQEtgmKk/VP9bcCP8dZI/AAAAAAAAAtk/N0z_gYxLOqs/s1600/flower3.jpg" height="281" width="500" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mO9SwMJL0yY/VP9be7bJn6I/AAAAAAAAAts/A7Ffl8dmcvs/s1600/flower2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mO9SwMJL0yY/VP9be7bJn6I/AAAAAAAAAts/A7Ffl8dmcvs/s1600/flower2.jpg" height="281" width="500" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AzCJUeHCl4I/VP9bkvvTq0I/AAAAAAAAAt0/RIH1RGK5E2Q/s1600/longwall3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AzCJUeHCl4I/VP9bkvvTq0I/AAAAAAAAAt0/RIH1RGK5E2Q/s1600/longwall3.jpg" height="165" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The B&W ceramic designs stand out in the </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">midst of all the colour</span>.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FnTd2PUl7wI/VP9Z3XRIyHI/AAAAAAAAAs0/wHWnWhUgZCE/s1600/guiness.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FnTd2PUl7wI/VP9Z3XRIyHI/AAAAAAAAAs0/wHWnWhUgZCE/s1600/guiness.jpg" height="500" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Top is the Guiness Book logo while below is the depiction of <br />the ancient & modern names of the city along with <br />the corresponding years.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">To see the wall before the mural existed, read the post by </span><a href="http://hanoimural.blogspot.in/2009/06/hanoi-mural-views-of-nowadays-and.html" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;" target="_blank">Hanoi Ceramic Mosaic Mural</a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">.</span></div>
Woolgathererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10422696282109435691noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3969508333279229982.post-89319552922228039622015-02-14T13:24:00.003+05:302015-03-19T21:28:38.359+05:30Nuggets of Hanoi<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Evening, and all around the King's pavilion</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">people are sitting, fishing, sad and grieving,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">loving, in love, remembering, waiting, watching.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Whose boat plies the river mists</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">offering so many river songs</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">to move these mountains and rivers, our nation?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>~ <a href="http://www.johnbalaban.com/ca-dao.html#at_the_exiled_kings_river_pavilion" target="_blank">A Vietnamese folk poem</a></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The King's pavillion could well be one of the many lakes in this city where people congregate, meet friends, play chess, fish, gamble or just stare into the waters.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My first impression of Vietnam was of a place that was remembering, waiting and watching. It's only as I delved deeper, I found a country making rapid strides towards globalisation. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Hanoi has been an important centre of Vietnam's political history for centuries. It </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">became the capital of a unified Vietnam in 1976</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">. The city celebrated a thousand years of existence in 2010 but is said to have been inhabited from way before - 3000 BC, at least.* </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Hanoi is one of the <a href="http://mondediplo.com/blogs/skyscrapers-and-ghost-houses-at-hanoi-s-periphery" target="_blank">faster developing cities</a> in South East Asia, its growth accelerated by the economic boom in the region. </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Though, given Hanoi's turbulent and bloody past in the 19th and 20th centuries, it's little wonder that most of the historical sights in the city are from those times. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The city lies on the banks of the Red River and is dotted with numerous lakes. The largest is West Lake, about 15 Km in circumference. Hanoi has a mix of French colonial buildings, traditional Chinese homes and of course, the newer developments. The modern city with its sky scrapers and <a href="http://www.thanhniennews.com/society/market-for-luxury-cars-growing-in-vietnam-694.html" target="_blank">fancy, imported cars</a>, jostles comfortably (at least on the surface) with the traditional - markets, hawkers on bicycles peddling their wares and even fishermen using ordinary bamboo poles to catch fish in the lakes. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Very few Indians seem to visit Hanoi. The few I met during my travel were living and working in the SE Asia region</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">. My presence elicited a few curious comments and questions from the Vietnamese. I got talking to a few (besides the hotel staff) during my trip - they all had one common thread with India - Bollywood movies! Almost all of them had either watched one or more of our films. Infact, in a store, I heard a local radio station playing a re-mixed track of a Bollywood song. One of the guys in the store, on enquiring, explained that Hindi songs were quite popular as 'dance-tracks'. Quite unexpected, this. :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In many ways Hanoi reminded me of India's smaller metros where signs of development can be seen all around while people straddle the old and the new (seemingly) effortlessly.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A few photographs that capture this multi-faceted city.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S1vF9V2kWQM/VN7ieUrScRI/AAAAAAAAAp4/J8E0Dw681go/s1600/shoppingdist.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S1vF9V2kWQM/VN7ieUrScRI/AAAAAAAAAp4/J8E0Dw681go/s1600/shoppingdist.jpg" height="220" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Hanoi's shopping centre in & around the Old Quarter</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VxKJEaQ0GVI/VN7iqX8rbCI/AAAAAAAAAqA/an3NYlZ1ZAY/s1600/HCM_museum.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VxKJEaQ0GVI/VN7iqX8rbCI/AAAAAAAAAqA/an3NYlZ1ZAY/s1600/HCM_museum.JPG" height="454" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Ho Chi Minh Museum's impressive lobby</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vg90gRHGLlc/VN7isgD4_wI/AAAAAAAAAqI/2QBgbZbxJI8/s1600/presidentialpalace.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vg90gRHGLlc/VN7isgD4_wI/AAAAAAAAAqI/2QBgbZbxJI8/s1600/presidentialpalace.JPG" height="332" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Presidential Palace with its distinct European (French) architecture</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m3Sa7zJK2mc/VN7iwJc1TuI/AAAAAAAAAqQ/JUlpiBncB6E/s1600/womens_museum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m3Sa7zJK2mc/VN7iwJc1TuI/AAAAAAAAAqQ/JUlpiBncB6E/s1600/womens_museum.jpg" height="640" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Beautiful paper-lamp installation & traditional </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">costumes </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">at the </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Vietnam Women's Museum</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The museums had large sections devoted to the revolution and the Vietnam war. The HCM Museum is also devoted to, expectedly, Ho Chi Minh - his life, philosophy and ideals. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BlTX46ev5B0/VN7sBh6WO8I/AAAAAAAAAqw/HNK59peYh9k/s1600/bonsai.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BlTX46ev5B0/VN7sBh6WO8I/AAAAAAAAAqw/HNK59peYh9k/s1600/bonsai.jpg" height="640" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Incorporating greenery into their </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">surroundings with Bonsais</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TxtOVjjI6p4/VN7vGEN66rI/AAAAAAAAArA/u7tMVsjSiqs/s1600/flowers1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TxtOVjjI6p4/VN7vGEN66rI/AAAAAAAAArA/u7tMVsjSiqs/s1600/flowers1.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Flower seller with her bicycle overflowing</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8IkoMcTdVQU/VN7r8pJF5CI/AAAAAAAAAqg/iUg--UxqTTE/s1600/flowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8IkoMcTdVQU/VN7r8pJF5CI/AAAAAAAAAqg/iUg--UxqTTE/s1600/flowers.jpg" height="640" width="390" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">More flowers</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Hanoi seems to be in love with flowers. Every street corner had florists or women on their bicycles selling the fresh, beautiful blooms. So pretty!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1KdA5mbAD1g/VN7wcc4yusI/AAAAAAAAArM/I-XpUjBbI2s/s1600/coffee_food.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1KdA5mbAD1g/VN7wcc4yusI/AAAAAAAAArM/I-XpUjBbI2s/s1600/coffee_food.jpg" height="331" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Street-side cafés & restaurants<br />(pic: daytourshanoi.com)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KoF5cTVhusQ/VL7V7BjvI9I/AAAAAAAAAlI/F4aQzwmPf8Q/s1600/springrolls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KoF5cTVhusQ/VL7V7BjvI9I/AAAAAAAAAlI/F4aQzwmPf8Q/s1600/springrolls.jpg" height="281" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Vietnamese spring roll</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MEzaW9plVNI/VN7wzmC-VJI/AAAAAAAAArU/osHd0l-gGuQ/s1600/art1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MEzaW9plVNI/VN7wzmC-VJI/AAAAAAAAArU/osHd0l-gGuQ/s1600/art1.jpg" height="331" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Propaganda posters<br />(pic: hanoikids.org)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hpaWYrz_hTs/VN7w0EaFN3I/AAAAAAAAArc/sgLJFc3nqAM/s1600/art2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hpaWYrz_hTs/VN7w0EaFN3I/AAAAAAAAArc/sgLJFc3nqAM/s1600/art2.jpg" height="331" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Original art & reproductions<br />(pic: citinomad.com)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Vietnam is famous for its artists who can paint remarkable reproductions of paintings </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">as well as 1970's style <a href="http://travelhappy.info/vietnam/the-old-propaganda-poster-shop-hanoi/" target="_blank">propaganda posters</a> promoting communism and the wars</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">. They are also known for original art depicting their culture and country. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vCVFxC43L94/VN7w5hUMH4I/AAAAAAAAArs/tVcwBw7HV7A/s1600/pagodas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vCVFxC43L94/VN7w5hUMH4I/AAAAAAAAArs/tVcwBw7HV7A/s1600/pagodas.jpg" height="563" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Temples & Pagodas in Hanoi</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8DNJTvA-5jI/VN7w45Ket6I/AAAAAAAAArk/7YS5E80fJu0/s1600/stjosephscathedral.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8DNJTvA-5jI/VN7w45Ket6I/AAAAAAAAArk/7YS5E80fJu0/s1600/stjosephscathedral.JPG" height="640" width="450" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">St. Joseph's Cathedral, one of Vietnam's oldest churches</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Before leaving on the trip, I tried to read up as much as I could on local customs, the attitude of local people towards tourists etc. Most of the information was very positive and had great advice but I also came across a few blogs where people had completely disliked their experience of travelling through Vietnam. They had been scammed, overcharged or were simply underwhelmed by the country. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I can only speak for myself here. I did not travel vast expanses of the country but in Ha Long and Hanoi I did not at any point feel cheated or taken for a ride. As long as I used my instincts and (outwardly) looked confident of what I was doing, it seemed to be OK. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Some tips to keep in mind:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1. English is not widely spoken, especially on the streets, so you have to get used to pointing at things on the menu, at shop windows or using calculators. A bit of practise in dumb charades might be helpful ;) Almost all street signs and instructions are in Vietnamese too. Though, I have heard it's different in Saigon/ Ho Chi Minh City as it's known today i.e. it's more globalised.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">2. In some places as a foreigner I paid more in entry fees. It's pretty normal in India too, so not a surprise. It may or may not be right but it wasn't a deal breaker for me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">3. Taxis try to overcharge, atleast that is the common refrain. Thankfully, I didn't come across this aspect of Hanoi. As long as I had a map and an idea of the general direction I had to travel, the taxis drivers seemed to be sane enough. :) Taxis are an expensive option though. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">4. In Hanoi, most of the main sights are in close proximity of each other. I walked to most of these places and used taxis as little as possible. If walking is not an option, there are <a href="http://www.travelfish.org/transport_detail/vietnam/hanoi_and_surrounds/hanoi/hanoi/32" target="_blank">cyclos</a> (cycle rickshaws to us, Indians) and public buses available. Besides, of course, taxis, motorbike-scooters and bicycles.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">5. Most touristy stuff e.g. Ha Long Bay's cruises, the night markets, tourist cabs are pricey. At the time of my travel, one Indian Rupee was roughly equal to 345 Dong. It seemed like a lot of money in foreign currency, for once, but in reality it's no such thing :) The value of goods is fairly high yet not off-the-charts expensive. It'll keep a bargain hunter quite happy. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">6. Don't expect an explosion of street food like in other Asian cities. There is good, traditional food available but it's in regular shop like spaces, spilling over onto the sidewalks. But it is not the stalls or street carts usually seen in other cities. My favourites were the <a href="http://daytourshanoi.com/guide/hanoi-coffee-culture/" target="_blank">Vietnamese coffee - sweet & ice cold</a>, the spring rolls and the soupy noodles with fresh seafood and other meats. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">7. I felt quite safe in Hanoi. Everywhere I went, people were friendly and accepting. As a woman, I didn't get any suspicious or creepy vibes. It was such a refreshing change. But like anywhere else, don't take unnecessary risks and keep your wits about you. Partying alone, late at nights for unaccompanied women might be problematic. Best avoided.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A lot of other experiences as a tourist in Asia is the same for Vietnam too e.g. taxi touts at airports, hawkers angling for payment for photographing them etc. It's for us to navigate those facets of being a tourist in a foreign city. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Among all the information I came across on the world wide web, one of the most useful was <a href="http://www.travelfish.org/" target="_blank">www.travelfish.org</a>. Quite a ready reckoner on Vietnam (and beyond). </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5uM2bqf-cNI/VN726IoPHuI/AAAAAAAAAr8/QHg9cJrfeB4/s1600/art.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5uM2bqf-cNI/VN726IoPHuI/AAAAAAAAAr8/QHg9cJrfeB4/s1600/art.jpg" height="640" width="312" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Even today, many of the public service messages <br />across the city are a throwback to the 1970s style of art. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I hope this has whetted your appetite for more on Hanoi. In later posts, I will elaborate on some of these spectacular structures and sights.</span></div>
Woolgathererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10422696282109435691noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3969508333279229982.post-57745638176891916702015-01-26T14:30:00.000+05:302015-01-26T14:30:17.062+05:30Glimpses: Ha Long Bay<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A few more glimpses of Ha Long Bay before I move on towards other sights in Vietnam.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sw9p5SlDu9s/VMX3QYCrBMI/AAAAAAAAAn8/YtkA-uLWT48/s1600/1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sw9p5SlDu9s/VMX3QYCrBMI/AAAAAAAAAn8/YtkA-uLWT48/s1600/1.JPG" height="333" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Bãi Cháy Bridge, the first cable-stayed bridge in Vietnam <br />forms an amazing backdrop for the city</span></span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hPSjD8gPDIk/VMX3Uesrv2I/AAAAAAAAAoE/xCGHHyDwsAM/s1600/2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hPSjD8gPDIk/VMX3Uesrv2I/AAAAAAAAAoE/xCGHHyDwsAM/s1600/2.JPG" height="320" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Sidewalk restaurants pop-up during the night, a relaxing way <br />for residents to spend the evening at the waterfront</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vpJyOk9qcUA/VMX3WeJLEeI/AAAAAAAAAoM/Pp5yXQyMqmo/s1600/3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vpJyOk9qcUA/VMX3WeJLEeI/AAAAAAAAAoM/Pp5yXQyMqmo/s1600/3.JPG" height="333" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A night market at Ha Long City</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-frrCjy10VW0/VMX3Zd7CzjI/AAAAAAAAAoU/If_D1FX5qvs/s1600/4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-frrCjy10VW0/VMX3Zd7CzjI/AAAAAAAAAoU/If_D1FX5qvs/s1600/4.JPG" height="333" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Some of the wares at the night market</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cPsc_duBAc0/VMX3aufDkgI/AAAAAAAAAoc/xiY-xqQy_RQ/s1600/5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cPsc_duBAc0/VMX3aufDkgI/AAAAAAAAAoc/xiY-xqQy_RQ/s1600/5.JPG" height="333" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The hotel complex on Tuan Chau island where I stayed</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JYBUIsN3tuQ/VMX7UVVUo9I/AAAAAAAAApE/Fs0Wl8AOSg4/s1600/6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JYBUIsN3tuQ/VMX7UVVUo9I/AAAAAAAAApE/Fs0Wl8AOSg4/s1600/6.JPG" height="137" width="525" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">View of Ha Long city as I sailed away from it</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i7NM_rEOrNI/VMX7V4RyKvI/AAAAAAAAApU/M82GXmA0D54/s1600/7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i7NM_rEOrNI/VMX7V4RyKvI/AAAAAAAAApU/M82GXmA0D54/s1600/7.JPG" height="333" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">View of the entrance to the bay</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0O4nUcOut8U/VMX7XB7vlEI/AAAAAAAAApg/9IfkcA-qZ-U/s1600/8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0O4nUcOut8U/VMX7XB7vlEI/AAAAAAAAApg/9IfkcA-qZ-U/s1600/8.JPG" height="333" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">An impressively large sea-faring vessel on the seas</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eiFg3Qu4vvQ/VMX7XdPANTI/AAAAAAAAApk/eD-XFlF2P_o/s1600/9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eiFg3Qu4vvQ/VMX7XdPANTI/AAAAAAAAApk/eD-XFlF2P_o/s1600/9.JPG" height="333" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A secluded beach on one of the rock islands</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZfNs1Lja-Lg/VMX7RlzqJ1I/AAAAAAAAAo0/dtGw_4cyYYU/s1600/10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZfNs1Lja-Lg/VMX7RlzqJ1I/AAAAAAAAAo0/dtGw_4cyYYU/s1600/10.JPG" height="640" width="497" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Sung Sot Cave: The dissolving limestone dripping down </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">to form a column (as seen below)</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4DJFgN2qOwQ/VMX7RmnuZbI/AAAAAAAAAos/gdkRCq_c-m4/s1600/11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4DJFgN2qOwQ/VMX7RmnuZbI/AAAAAAAAAos/gdkRCq_c-m4/s1600/11.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Sung Sot Cave: A column formed by soluble limestone over eons & </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">the process continues (as in the photo above)</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wtlKTq5apHA/VMX7RIWd-UI/AAAAAAAAAoo/iwvA-TBXqv0/s1600/12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wtlKTq5apHA/VMX7RIWd-UI/AAAAAAAAAoo/iwvA-TBXqv0/s1600/12.JPG" height="333" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A floating home against the backdrop of the rock walls</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0gCJCFcLHOg/VMX7TRTsMxI/AAAAAAAAApA/Qy8RyaxyiHQ/s1600/13.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0gCJCFcLHOg/VMX7TRTsMxI/AAAAAAAAApA/Qy8RyaxyiHQ/s1600/13.JPG" height="333" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">At sunset</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jcgHxn4ulkQ/VMX7Unir0cI/AAAAAAAAApI/VB0Uxz9kPco/s1600/14.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jcgHxn4ulkQ/VMX7Unir0cI/AAAAAAAAApI/VB0Uxz9kPco/s1600/14.JPG" height="333" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Fresh catch to be served to willing diners</span></td></tr>
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</div>
Woolgathererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10422696282109435691noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3969508333279229982.post-60212048566471093422015-01-24T19:38:00.000+05:302015-02-15T02:56:20.286+05:30Creating sunshine<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Today, was day when I felt a bit like this. Outside, the sun seem to have disappeared even before I realised it was there. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rCpZwV1DCLA/VMOm615Fc0I/AAAAAAAAAns/1M6blYjxvE0/s1600/summer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rCpZwV1DCLA/VMOm615Fc0I/AAAAAAAAAns/1M6blYjxvE0/s1600/summer.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">via <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/382524562071981734/" target="_blank">Pinterest.com</a></span></div>
Woolgathererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10422696282109435691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3969508333279229982.post-7269613045730207872015-01-23T03:36:00.001+05:302015-01-23T12:39:28.987+05:30Descending Dragon Bay<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MdZ5cCANnRk/VMFf6nth8rI/AAAAAAAAAlU/8boPk5KjxOQ/s1600/singlelimestone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MdZ5cCANnRk/VMFf6nth8rI/AAAAAAAAAlU/8boPk5KjxOQ/s1600/singlelimestone.jpg" height="252" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A rock island in Ha Long Bay</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Now, imagine a seascape dotted with thousands of such rock islands. Literally, as far as your eye can see. That's Ha Long Bay for you. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HJ1wSooSVhg/VMFjYrlWoMI/AAAAAAAAAlk/jfMPuictPHo/s1600/bay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HJ1wSooSVhg/VMFjYrlWoMI/AAAAAAAAAlk/jfMPuictPHo/s1600/bay.jpg" height="227" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">As my boat sailed past these towering rock islands, I could imagine myself in a 'Pirates of the Carribean' movie. There was silence all around broken only by the hum of the engine. The rock islands stood like silent sentinels watching us go by. </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xpM5eAnZSL8/VMFhXtb1_eI/AAAAAAAAAlc/6pJ3jvjlzFQ/s1600/halong.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xpM5eAnZSL8/VMFhXtb1_eI/AAAAAAAAAlc/6pJ3jvjlzFQ/s1600/halong.png" height="365" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Overview of the bay showing the numerous islands. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">(Not 100% accurate as images have </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">been stitched together)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/672" target="_blank">Ha Long Bay</a> (Descending Dragon Bay) is a designated UNESCO World Heritage site about 150 Kms from the capital Hanoi (approx 3 hrs drive). This makes it an easily accessible and popular holiday destination for Vietnamese and foreign tourists, alike. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The bay is unusual and attractive because of the limestone karsts and islands that are strewn in the waters. Ha Long is just one part of a larger ecosystem of these rocks along the Vietnamese coastline. The awe-inspiring islands and karsts have been formed over millions of years of geographical activity - tectonic shifts, flooding, erosions etc. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Today, the islands are characterised by thick vegetation which I'm sure is home to numerous birds and small animals, the base immersed in the sea, to a host of marine life. None of these I could get a closer look at as all the islands are not accessible. The islands are also marked by caves and grottos formed by eroding rock and soluble limestone. </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wygBRCYQwPw/VMFljZYNZII/AAAAAAAAAls/imIzcg3psmg/s1600/caves1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wygBRCYQwPw/VMFljZYNZII/AAAAAAAAAls/imIzcg3psmg/s1600/caves1.JPG" height="309" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A cave entrance at sea level</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7enwvZWT68I/VMFlmdaDciI/AAAAAAAAAl0/CPO_qPJkusQ/s1600/caves2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7enwvZWT68I/VMFlmdaDciI/AAAAAAAAAl0/CPO_qPJkusQ/s1600/caves2.JPG" height="333" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A large hollow where boats were tethered</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">There are a few islands where tourists are allowed. These are ones with large cave systems which have been developed to make it more accessible to tourists. I visited one - Sung Sot Cave or Surprise Grotto. The tale goes that when the first visitors to these caves entered it, their reaction was of surprise and amazement. Simplicity itself. :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I was a little apprehensive at first, as I didn't want to enter a small enclosed space with hundreds of people in them. But I was, shall we say, surprised at the size of the caves. They were huge, with high ceilings and fantastic limestone formations. </span>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--6LHKKW714o/VMFod5LrB2I/AAAAAAAAAmM/pVm33TTDGQQ/s1600/SS1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--6LHKKW714o/VMFod5LrB2I/AAAAAAAAAmM/pVm33TTDGQQ/s1600/SS1.JPG" height="333" width="500" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BItU7iWMzlQ/VMFoc90o1WI/AAAAAAAAAl8/kQmX-zgedUQ/s1600/SS2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BItU7iWMzlQ/VMFoc90o1WI/AAAAAAAAAl8/kQmX-zgedUQ/s1600/SS2.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Surprise Grotto is on Bon Hon island and probably the largest cave that exists in the area. It is therefore a popular cave with tour operators bringing loads of tourists here. Small mechanised boats bring you from the yacht to the jetty on the island. Then you have to climb a series of steep steps to reach the cave entrance. It is a moderately difficult climb and manageable for anyone in 'okay' shape. </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NmUdTbD57Fk/VMFqLghQptI/AAAAAAAAAmU/tjB5bdXe_qk/s1600/jetty.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NmUdTbD57Fk/VMFqLghQptI/AAAAAAAAAmU/tjB5bdXe_qk/s1600/jetty.JPG" height="333" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Jetty where the boats drop tourists off before the climb to the caves</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Developing tourist spots is a good thing but maybe one can do this with a little less enthusiasm. This cave seemed very sanitised - no birds, bats or any thing else within or outside. Most of the natural structures inside were lit by flood lights giving the place a surreal look. To give the Vietnamese credit though, they had made access to the caves as easy as possible i.e. the steep climb to the cave was aided by well maintained steps which helped immensely. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TX1VNAB8gUc/VMFq4U6ASpI/AAAAAAAAAmc/ZKMPmAC_pFU/s1600/viewingpt.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TX1VNAB8gUc/VMFq4U6ASpI/AAAAAAAAAmc/ZKMPmAC_pFU/s1600/viewingpt.JPG" height="333" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A viewpoint far up the rock climb</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aVRxMmHNTA8/VMFq6rsCFDI/AAAAAAAAAmk/hsuD-Q_CKE4/s1600/viewfromtop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aVRxMmHNTA8/VMFq6rsCFDI/AAAAAAAAAmk/hsuD-Q_CKE4/s1600/viewfromtop.jpg" height="333" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Scene from the viewpoint</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In the bay there are a few floating villages too whose people are expert seafarers. They survive by fishing and marine culture. With the tour boats cruising by the villages and some even docking at them, the villagers now also sell trinkets and other tourist paraphernalia. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It is said there are over 1,500 people living in these many floating villages. Though when we cruise past them, it didn't look like more than 50 people could live in one group of these floating units. The villages were very interesting as they seemed so fragile and miniscule as compared to the huge rocks and the vast waters surrounding them. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Ha Long Bay can be visited by yacht tours which are very popular. They normally dock at the Tuan Chau marina, a fairly recent development that is continuing to expand. There are different types of yachts, varied budgets and itineraries that you can choose from. Be sure to get a recommended and reliable option as safety standards are not always up to the mark. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NHNWIdOYTvg/VMFtKAeZlMI/AAAAAAAAAnE/y7GsBDiMtDI/s1600/marina.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NHNWIdOYTvg/VMFtKAeZlMI/AAAAAAAAAnE/y7GsBDiMtDI/s1600/marina.jpg" height="281" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Yachts docked at the marina</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oFHyqznbACM/VMFtNwmQ-BI/AAAAAAAAAnM/a3O2C0hzWh0/s1600/cabin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oFHyqznbACM/VMFtNwmQ-BI/AAAAAAAAAnM/a3O2C0hzWh0/s1600/cabin.jpg" height="281" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A cabin in one of the yachts</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I took a half day tour with </span><a href="https://www.paradisecruises.vn/" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;" target="_blank">Paradise Cruises</a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> which is one of the larger operators in the area. They also have different duration tours including overnight stays on the yachts. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PieDazL-TYE/VMFtP09L3bI/AAAAAAAAAnU/j4loZcAsuIA/s1600/cityview.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PieDazL-TYE/VMFtP09L3bI/AAAAAAAAAnU/j4loZcAsuIA/s1600/cityview.JPG" height="333" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A view of the city from afar</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I didn't have much of a chance to check out the city and its sights in the one day I was there. But, I'm glad I at least managed to sail the waters of this vast and impressive bay. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B8pPS9ISS-Y/VMFuDnwRcNI/AAAAAAAAAnc/fKO2oPZZsC8/s1600/IMG_0163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B8pPS9ISS-Y/VMFuDnwRcNI/AAAAAAAAAnc/fKO2oPZZsC8/s1600/IMG_0163.JPG" height="333" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">My cruise trip ended with the sunset over Ha Long Bay. </span></td></tr>
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Woolgathererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10422696282109435691noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3969508333279229982.post-39776249399395435092015-01-21T04:01:00.001+05:302015-01-21T04:01:47.910+05:30A singular experience - getting a visa to Vietnam<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">In October 2014, I had made a short trip to Vietnam - a brief visit to Hanoi and nearby Halong Bay. To me, Vietnam has always been an attractive proposition as it's one of the less travelled spots and therefore (as I hoped) be less commercial and touristy. Especially, in comparision to regional neighbours like Thailand or Hong Kong or even Cambodia.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The first step was to get a visa. The downside of not being a tourist attraction was very evident when I started the process of getting one. There was no clarity in the information on the Vietnamese Embassy website, no traveller accounts on the world wide web that talked of getting a visa from India and worse, no travel agent who seemed to know how to go about it. It was like a black hole from which not even a glimmer of information escaped. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There were lots of websites which offered to process a visa on arrival but they didn't seem authentic or accredited by the Vietnamese government and again there was no traveller info on the same. Later, I did find a post on Tripadvisor's community forum that said Visa on Arrival is available provided some pre-travel formalities are taken care of (<a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g293921-c148049/Vietnam:Faq.Visa.On.Arrival.Voa.html" target="_blank">Trip Advisor FAQ</a>). But, it still seemed a little dicey and I opted for getting my visa before travelling into Vietnam.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The travel agent I was recommended, had no clue whatsoever, which I realised only after I had paid him a fat sum and he had got some basic documentation ready. Then each day was a like a day of discovery for him where he would tell me he needed one more type of document. Finally, when I did a bit more fact-checking, I found this great checklist on <a href="http://www.tcvsil.com/visainfo/af/vps/tc/visa/visaserviceslink.do?customerCode=MTAwMDQ=&country=VIETNAM&uniqueId=MTI5OTgwNDE=" target="_blank">Thomas Cook's India website</a> which had details of documents required. I sent it to the travel agent to get him organised. Not to mention, he also gave me tonnes of info on how rude and obnoxious the people at the embassy are or so he 'had heard' (!!!). As if I wasn't already stressed and apprehensive.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The visa stamping required a personal interview. So I trudged off to the embassy. I opted for the consulate in Mumbai. It's in the posh Hiranandani area in Powai. But, the postal address is all I had to go looking for it. There was no landmark given, no signboard when you get there and passers by are completely unaware such an entity existed. Finally, after some amount of going around in circles, I found it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I reached there early, by 9AM just to be on the safer side. I had no information on their timings of work. Well... the place was shut. Absolutely & irrevocably closed with no one in sight, not even a watchman or a cleaner or anyone in sight. There were no visa applicants waiting. I asked some people in an office next door who told me, "You never know if they will open. Sometimes they come, sometimes they don't." That left me speechless and thinking, "Must be a sweet deal where you can decide what time to get to office or not at all."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Finally, I went back down to the ground floor and checked with the building watchman who said it opens only at 10AM and added, "Woh log ayenge, aap wait karo" (they will come, you wait). I hung around and at about 9.45 AM someone came and opened up the place. He was a consulate official and asked me to wait for his colleague. That was another 20 mins. The visa officer came and without much delay took my papers. He was about 30 mins processing my documents and stamping my passport. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The visa officer seemed quite surprised that I had applied for a tourist visa. By then a few more people had come for visas. It seemed that work/ business related visas were more popular and not so much the tourist ones. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I was out of the consulate by 11AM with a valid visa stamped and ready for me to travel. Not a bad morning's work, I felt, not by a long shot. The fastest I have got a visa to anywhere. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">No fuss, no hassles and oh so polite the officials were. It pretty much set the mood for my holiday and Vietnam did not disappoint me. But more of that in later posts.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In a nutshell here's what is required for getting your tourist visa for Vietnam in India - </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>A pre-filled visa application form - you can get it from the embassy/ consulate website.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Mumbai - <a href="http://www.vietnamconsulate-mumbai.org/en/nr070521170031/">http://www.vietnamconsulate-mumbai.org/en/nr070521170031/</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Delhi - <a href="http://www.mofa.gov.vn/vnemb.india">http://www.mofa.gov.vn/vnemb.india</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">2.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Passport should be valid for at least six months from the date of submission of visa</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">application.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">3.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Two recent colour photograph, 35 x 45mm in size with white background.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">4.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Covering letter from the applicant on company's letter head stating his name, designation, purpose and duration of visit.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">5.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Proof of accommodation: hotel reservation including the name and phone number of hotel.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">6.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>If staying at friend’s / relatives place, the applicant can stay maximum up to 15 days. If the stay is longer then the host needs to apply for the visa for the applicant at Vietnamese immigration.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">7.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Proof of airline reservation for a round trip.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">8.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Foreign exchange endorsement on the applicant’s passport / Credit card copy of the</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">applicant is required.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">9.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Updated Bank statement for the last 3 months is required.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">10.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>One photocopy of the first and last pages of the passport.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">11.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Personal Presence is mandatory. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">There are two options in India - Delhi or Mumbai. You can get the addresses from the website (mentioned in pt. 1)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Again, <a href="http://www.tcvsil.com/visainfo/af/vps/tc/visa/visaserviceslink.do?customerCode=MTAwMDQ=&country=VIETNAM&uniqueId=MTI5OTgwNDE=" target="_blank">Vietnam visa details on the Thomas Cook India website</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Only one aspect struck me a bit odd - the consulate asked me (via a note signed and stapled to my visa) to have a min of 1000 USD on my person before entering the country. Thankfully, I needed more than that for my trip, so it wasn't too much of a bother. Nevertheless, it seemed like an excessive demand considering pts. 5, 7, 8 and 9 above, were complied with. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Note: While the information on visa requirements given above are current for now, it can change any time. It's best to check with the embassy/ consulate nearest to you before you travel.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Anyway, I hope this helps any one planning to travel to Vietnam. I'll leave you with photos of this beautiful and breathtaking country for now.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e1z9atZaVJQ/VL7VqybgTUI/AAAAAAAAAkk/OKYKckkQyqA/s1600/poster_ceramicwall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e1z9atZaVJQ/VL7VqybgTUI/AAAAAAAAAkk/OKYKckkQyqA/s1600/poster_ceramicwall.jpg" height="400" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The famous ceramic mosaic wall in Hanoi & <br />a poster in the art style typical to Vietnam</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g7K6ReBIboI/VL7VuIsevcI/AAAAAAAAAks/vFctOoLvsFE/s1600/handmadecards.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g7K6ReBIboI/VL7VuIsevcI/AAAAAAAAAks/vFctOoLvsFE/s1600/handmadecards.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Handcrafted greeting cards with pop-up figures</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oX-Kv-OSMdw/VL7VwN-1NJI/AAAAAAAAAk0/0Hi8E-5lXe0/s1600/halongbay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oX-Kv-OSMdw/VL7VwN-1NJI/AAAAAAAAAk0/0Hi8E-5lXe0/s1600/halongbay.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The marina at Halong Bay</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5AAOxZl-3dY/VL7V0aRkjrI/AAAAAAAAAk8/fAyARkTshgQ/s1600/inlayworkfurniture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5AAOxZl-3dY/VL7V0aRkjrI/AAAAAAAAAk8/fAyARkTshgQ/s1600/inlayworkfurniture.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Delicate inlay work in a Chinese antique furniture piece</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KoF5cTVhusQ/VL7V7BjvI9I/AAAAAAAAAlE/V3TEz7MnUy8/s1600/springrolls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KoF5cTVhusQ/VL7V7BjvI9I/AAAAAAAAAlE/V3TEz7MnUy8/s1600/springrolls.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A Vietnamese spring roll - very DIY</span></td></tr>
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Woolgathererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10422696282109435691noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3969508333279229982.post-38464100340642431322015-01-15T03:02:00.000+05:302015-01-15T16:26:10.887+05:30My favourites in 2014 - books & movies <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It's that time of the year again when all the 'best' lists of the past year are drawn up. And here's one of mine :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The most memorable books and movies of 2014: The ones that I thought were really good and left me thinking days after I had read/ watched them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>BOOKS</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Calcutta Chromosome </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The novel is set in India and traverses time from past to the future with considerable alacrity. British India, the 1990s and somewhere in the distant future are all part of plot. The central theme revolves around eternal life and starts with the discovery of Malaria by Sir Ronald Ross. It's partly rooted in science-fiction, partly religion but based on historical facts. Prima-facie, the story seems complicated but as you continue reading you realise how seamlessly Amitava Ghosh moves between lives and eras. I read the whole book at one go. It's 'un-putdownable'. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/67100.The_Calcutta_Chromosome" target="_blank">Other links.</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Divergent</b> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Even though I am many, many years older than the target audience for Young Adult fiction, I still like reading them. I particularly like Eon Colfer's Artemis Fowl series, Hunger Games (except the last book) and I recently started the Divergent series. The books by Veronica Roth have similarities with the Hunger Games but I personally felt that these went a notch further in telling a compelling story. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Divergent is based on the premise that the world as we know does not exist any more. It has been divided into factions that stay within strictly regulated boundaries both geographically and socially to maintain peace and equilibrium. At 16 years, young girls and boys, no matter which faction they were born into and raised, are made to undergo a series of tests to gauge which faction they would belong to for the rest of their lives. The storyline is edgy, sometimes violent but the underlying theme of straining against rules and regulations and wanting to 'be yourself' are the same as other YA fiction. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13335037-divergent" target="_blank">Other links.</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>MOVIES</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Frozen</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A year later, this movie is known more for its record breaking track 'Let it go'. But the movie is so much more than just the song. For once Walt Disney breaks its stereotype of Princesses being rescued by Princes Charming. But I am getting ahead of myself here. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The story is of two sisters - Elsa and Anna. The older, Elsa, has the ability to create ice and snow. The ability is awesome when controlled which she never really learns to do. Elsa grows up into a serious and proper adult who becomes Queen way too soon. Therefore, turns out responsible and concerned with the affairs of the kingdom. She keeps her ability a secret from the time she accidentally puts Anna in danger when they were children. Their parents who were the only other people who knew of her uncontrollable magic are dead and Anna does not remember much. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Elsa and Anna have an emotionally fraught argument which triggers off the magic and envelopes the kingdom in perpetual winter. Elsa flees to the mountains never intending to return. Anna realises that her sister must return and goes in search of her. They unite but again Elsa loses control and lashes out at Anna who returns home. On the way back Anna's hair starts turning white which is a sign that her heart is freezing after Elsa's attack. Only an act of 'true love' can reverse it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The story that continues where viewers can predict that one of the male leads will be Anna's true love. I mean, it's a Disney movie, duh!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Ah, but that's where the twist is. [Spolier Alert]: Elsa turns out to be Anna's true love. The spell is reversed and in true Disney tradition all's well that ends well. <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2294629/?ref_=ttmd_md_nm" target="_blank">Other links.</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>American Hustle</b> </span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YR_Y-jXH1Sg/VLbYbUlpCGI/AAAAAAAAAiM/NWZ4SIaaBnk/s1600/americanhustle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="american hustle movie christian bale bradley cooper amy adams jennifer lawrence english hollywood" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YR_Y-jXH1Sg/VLbYbUlpCGI/AAAAAAAAAiM/NWZ4SIaaBnk/s1600/americanhustle.jpg" height="240" title="" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It released in India only in early 2014, probably to coincide with various awards that pushed it further into the limelight. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The movie has a strong cast and is set in the 1970s or thereabouts. It revolves around con-man Irving Rosenfeld (Christian Bale), his business partner and mistress Sydney Prosser (Amy Adams), his wife Rosalyn (Jennifer Lawrence) and an FBI agent Richie Di Maso (Bradley Cooper). Robert De Niro has a cameo as a mobster. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Christian Bale's character is particularly notable as it transforms him into an older, paunchy, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">toupée</span></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> wearing con-man (so unlike the suave, cool Bruce Wayne in Batman... sigh!). Jennifer Lawrence is a boozy, erratic Rosalyn who oscillates between personalities as neurotic & possessive one moment and confident & manipulative in another. Again it's a complete opposite of confident Katniss in the Hunger Games. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The plot is that of the FBI agent forcing the con-artists to trap corrupt politicians. Thrown into the mix are the mobsters. The story has a twist at the end which makes this film a brilliant watch.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">American Hustle earned numerous nominations at the Academy Awards (Oscars), the Golden Globes, Screen Actors Guild Awards and many more. It won many of these nominations too. Surprisingly, it didn't win any Oscars though it was nominated in 10 categories. <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1800241/?ref_=nv_sr_3" target="_blank">Other links.</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Book thief</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I haven't stopped raving about the book, though I read it many years ago. Movies based on books are always known to be less interesting than the books themselves. Nevertheless, I waited in anticipation for this movie. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The movie is quite similar to the book except it is missing the continuous thread of Death narrating the story. It was one of the key aspects of the book but its role is limited in the movie. Probably, the makers felt it would have made the movie more morbid given the subject matter and therefore less commercial?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Based in Nazi Germany, the movie follows the life of a young girl, Liesel, who goes to live with foster parents when her family is scattered. The life she makes for herself in the new town, her relationship with her foster parents, the new friends she makes, learning to read and subsequently becoming a 'book thief' are the focus of the story. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The story ends on a sad note for Liesel but we also get to know that she lives to a ripe old age, migrates to Australia and has a large family. <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0816442/?ref_=fn_al_tt_2" target="_blank">Other links.</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Queen</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">One of Bollywood's few entries in my list. A refreshingly light-hearted movie, it made the female lead the focus of the story without necessarily casting her into stereotypical female roles as seen in Bollywood films. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The movie centers around Rani (meaning Queen in Hindi) played by Kangana Ranaut who belongs to a middle class family in Delhi. About to be married she is left at the altar by her </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 19.8400001525879px;">fiancé</span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">. She decides to go on her honeymoon to Europe, alone, instead of moping around at home. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Rani finds her way around the world, makes new friends, discovers her fun side and goes back home wiser and determined to follow her heart. All the while retaining her innate simplicity and naivete. Lighthearted and fun but infused with a large dose of reality (from an Indian context), the movie leaves you wishing there were more such films from Bollywood. <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3322420/?ref_=fn_tt_tt_1" target="_blank">Other links.</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Chef</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This wasn't an outstanding movie by awards' standards but I liked it for its happy-go-lucky storyline. It had a fairly straight forward plot but told the tale with so much optimism and <i>joie de vivre</i> that I couldn't help be happy when I left the theatre. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The movie follows the life of a chef (obviously) who quits his restaurant job after a run ins with a well-known food critic as well as his boss. His ex-wife and a colleague at the restaurant, both encourage him to follow his dream, of running a food truck. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">How the chef starts the food truck business, how he repairs the strained relationship with his son and ex-wife and how he rediscovers his passion for cooking and serving people the most delicious food is the meat of the story (pun unintended). ;)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Jon Favreau is the chef, Carl Casper, Sofia Vergara is his ex-wife, Emjay Anthony plays the son, Oliver Platt is the food critic and Dustin Hoffman is the restaurant owner. Scarlett </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Johansson too has a cameo as the restaurant manager.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Chef stayed with me because it had been a long time since I had watched a funny, happy movie and one that ends well. Or maybe, I am just a sucker for happy endings. :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Interstellar</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">One of the last movies that I watched in 2014. I have always been a Christopher Nolan fan and I had heard that if one liked 'Inception' then this would be an equally good watch. And I wasn't disappointed. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Like 'Inception' the movie is based on sci-fiction [as we know at the moment ;)] where a group of people travel into space, through a wormhole, no less, to find new planets to inhabit as the earth is dying. Objective: to save the human race. (I am not entirely sure we deserve to be saved, but that's my opinion.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Mathew M's daughter, Murphy (named after the law) keeps referring to a 'ghost' in her bedroom who is trying to communicate with her in code. The code finally leads them to a top-secret NASA facility.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Matthew M, Anne Hathway, Dave Gyasi and Dave Bentley along with two Artificial Intelligence beings (not sure if they can be really called robots) TARS and CASE, are the chosen ones to leave the earth in a NASA mission. Never to return.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The powers that be on earth had supposedly banned any further space exploration ventures as a waste of money - to appease the people. But secretly, they still funded it. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Michael Caine is the head of the project who stays behind. He mentors Murphy who becomes a NASA scientist and pursues Caine's work. Eventually, Mathew M and TARS sacrifice themselves into a black hole so Anne Hathway can continue with the mission. They land up in a space where time is a spatial dimension. They can glimpse into Murphy's bedroom at different points in time, all at the same time e.g. when she is reading, when she is sleeping, when she is doing her homework etc. Mathew M realises that he is the 'ghost' sending the message to his daughter. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Mathew M also figures that they have been driven to travel into space, explore different planets by humans with very advanced knowledge who wanted to save the race. It's not the future as different times (i.e. past, present, future) all co-exist in parallel dimensions at the same time. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Hopefully, that made sense. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Better still, watch the movie. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I am sure there are many more noteworthy ones that ought to be included in this list. Except, I did not get around to reading those books or watching the movies. I hope I can make up for it in the next year. After all, 2015 is another year!</span></div>
Woolgathererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10422696282109435691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3969508333279229982.post-87154406558259694402014-11-13T01:40:00.001+05:302014-11-13T01:40:18.392+05:30The Bungalow on the Beach<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The long trip to </span><a href="http://gonewoolgathering.blogspot.in/2014/11/a-place-where-waves-sing.html" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;" target="_blank">Tranquebar or Tharangambadi</a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> on a 'misinformed' (self-induced) whim was tiring. Travelling by road for nearly 6 hours with only a short break for lunch just wasn't enough. So, when I finally reached the Bungalow on the Beach, it was with a sense of relief. It quickly turned into sheer happiness when I saw the inside of my room and the view from the windows. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9W9pJbUBqLw/VGOvTz0xoMI/AAAAAAAAAes/in925nG7CuQ/s1600/frombalcony1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9W9pJbUBqLw/VGOvTz0xoMI/AAAAAAAAAes/in925nG7CuQ/s400/frombalcony1.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">View of the sea opposite my room</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Right beside the beach, I could hear the waves crashing all through the day & night. Initially, it was a little disorienting, a new type of sound to get used to. But, after a while, the sounds of the sea were soothing and lulled me to deep, refreshing sleep. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.neemranahotels.com/" target="_blank">Neemrana's non-hotel</a> (as they like to call it) is as described on their website - a heritage property, restored painstakingly and lovingly to its original state. Almost. There are modern conveniences like air-conditioners and ensuite bathrooms which are later additions to the property. The renovations have been done in a way where it blends in with the rest of the architecture and decor. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xM1CRs-zvSM/VGOvi8RESaI/AAAAAAAAAe0/v7rvK9BfA3o/s1600/hotel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xM1CRs-zvSM/VGOvi8RESaI/AAAAAAAAAe0/v7rvK9BfA3o/s400/hotel.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Bungalow on the Beach in the <br />evening just as the lights came on</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-11o8xFHHL3A/VGOvnot58bI/AAAAAAAAAe8/FPxDsxUEe1A/s1600/foyer.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-11o8xFHHL3A/VGOvnot58bI/AAAAAAAAAe8/FPxDsxUEe1A/s400/foyer.JPG" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The foyer with its warm vibe</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The Bungalow on the Beach was built in 1845 during British rule as the collector's residence (according to a book in the hotel). The Neemrana Hotels bought the building in 2002 from the previous owners and it has been with them since. Interested guests can browse through the hotel's album which details the various stages of restoration of the Bungalow on the Beach.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My room was adequately spacious. Surprisingly, it wasn't huge like one gets to see in other heritage buildings or in most other Neemrana properties. High ceilings, large windows and a canopied bed, it was cozy and comfortable. The bathroom was a bit small but it didn't bother me too much as the rest of the environs were beautiful - inside and outside. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AsM1hiGZvdo/VGOwqODTGPI/AAAAAAAAAfI/N6b4HXaLS4A/s1600/collage2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AsM1hiGZvdo/VGOwqODTGPI/AAAAAAAAAfI/N6b4HXaLS4A/s640/collage2.jpg" width="440" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Antique fixtures & artwork as seen in the hotel</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8zessTB6opU/VGOwu7zVz8I/AAAAAAAAAfQ/x48oYIhZJa4/s1600/collage3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="446" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8zessTB6opU/VGOwu7zVz8I/AAAAAAAAAfQ/x48oYIhZJa4/s400/collage3.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The size of the bolts & hinges will give you an idea <br />of the huge sizes of the doors & windows in the place :)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The top floor verandah runs around the bungalow, with rooms opening on to it. It was a great place to sit and watch the waves or just day dream. An easy chair, a book to read, a cup of tea (or a tall, cold drink depending on the weather) and I could have spent hours there. One side of the building faces the beach and the one side the </span><a href="http://gonewoolgathering.blogspot.in/2014/11/dansborg-fort-tranquebar.html" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;" target="_blank">Dansborg Fort</a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">. A third adjoins the 14th century </span><a href="http://gonewoolgathering.blogspot.in/2014/11/a-temple-church-graveyard-tranquebar.html" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;" target="_blank">Massilamani Nathar temple</a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">. You can pick your choice of the views. :)</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TVmODPSvV7E/VGOw_oz8M6I/AAAAAAAAAfY/wOnT7PYcomQ/s1600/frombalcony2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TVmODPSvV7E/VGOw_oz8M6I/AAAAAAAAAfY/wOnT7PYcomQ/s400/frombalcony2.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">14th century temple and sea on the <br />far side of the swimming pool</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UNPxMSyChsI/VGOxDURW17I/AAAAAAAAAfg/j0X5wh1QoEU/s1600/frombalcony3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UNPxMSyChsI/VGOxDURW17I/AAAAAAAAAfg/j0X5wh1QoEU/s400/frombalcony3.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">View of the fort from the hotel at sunset. <br />The skies were unbelievable!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9Xkf0qsQndc/VGOxfHiBIxI/AAAAAAAAAf8/sMVsgu761Rw/s1600/nest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="382" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9Xkf0qsQndc/VGOxfHiBIxI/AAAAAAAAAf8/sMVsgu761Rw/s400/nest.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A nesting bird in the trees opposite the verandah</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The staff were warm and friendly. The food was local cuisine and yummy, unless you wanted continental dishes, which were also available. There are no other places in town to try the local fare. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9eCurPowW6E/VGOxTl-koGI/AAAAAAAAAf0/YvlBeeq-tpY/s1600/outdoor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9eCurPowW6E/VGOxTl-koGI/AAAAAAAAAf0/YvlBeeq-tpY/s400/outdoor.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Verandah on the ground floor</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--cGfr4IOnWA/VGOxNnHER8I/AAAAAAAAAfs/6TlqUkG_9Os/s1600/jam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--cGfr4IOnWA/VGOxNnHER8I/AAAAAAAAAfs/6TlqUkG_9Os/s320/jam.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Made from fruits from their own orchards <br />in some other part of the country</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I spent two days in Tranquebar and loved every moment of it. It's a small town and there aren't many places to stay there besides Neemrana's properties - the Gate House (photos at the end of this post) is the second. The Nayak House on Goldsmith Street is another place to stay. A former Neemrana property, it is reportedly now owned and operated by another entity. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have stayed at other Neemrana properties too (I admit I am a fan of the Hotels & the concept) but this particular one had me completely charmed. Maybe it was a bit of the place too that had me enthralled.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Photos of the Gate House:</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The hotel is so named due its proximity to the old town gate. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--osRT8fltug/VGO5ckBBLfI/AAAAAAAAAgY/92jzpq7BNA0/s1600/swing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--osRT8fltug/VGO5ckBBLfI/AAAAAAAAAgY/92jzpq7BNA0/s400/swing.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Traditional swing near the courtyard</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cy1jhGNSMSA/VGO5lfkcHQI/AAAAAAAAAgg/Eqh0NRfyUMs/s1600/D_hall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cy1jhGNSMSA/VGO5lfkcHQI/AAAAAAAAAgg/Eqh0NRfyUMs/s640/D_hall.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Carved pillars that are jaw droppingly amazing</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OiaOg5ASuQU/VGO5tnuhmPI/AAAAAAAAAgw/kV3RHV-lJdQ/s1600/collage2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="355" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OiaOg5ASuQU/VGO5tnuhmPI/AAAAAAAAAgw/kV3RHV-lJdQ/s400/collage2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The bathrooms - old yet new</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MTMjzU3wjOU/VGO5zUo0LOI/AAAAAAAAAg4/LhLUTujdXdE/s1600/scraper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="170" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MTMjzU3wjOU/VGO5zUo0LOI/AAAAAAAAAg4/LhLUTujdXdE/s400/scraper.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Yet another antique - a coconut scraper</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qoKJqX3W0p0/VGO52yraaXI/AAAAAAAAAhA/lbHT2PUApAg/s1600/gate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qoKJqX3W0p0/VGO52yraaXI/AAAAAAAAAhA/lbHT2PUApAg/s640/gate.jpg" width="524" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The town gate as seen from the hotel</span></td></tr>
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<i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Note: This is NOT a sponsored trip or review. As I said, I am a fan. ;)</i></div>
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Woolgathererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10422696282109435691noreply@blogger.com0